26 
LETTERS FROM 
This is, however, effected by an operation 
called “ holystoning ,” which is performed 
by scrubbing the planks with flat stones, 
assisted by sand and water. I cannot give 
you the derivation of the above term, but I 
know that by means of this process our black, 
filthy deck was at last made to look re- 
splendently white. 
Our vessel is about four hundred and fifty 
tons register, and has two sixty horse-power 
engines; these do not work very quietly, 
from which cause and from weakness in the 
vessel, there is often a very unpleasant tre¬ 
mulous motion. Our greatest speed during 
the voyage to this place was nine knots per 
hour; this was in a dead calm, and with per¬ 
fectly smooth water, under which circum¬ 
stances the Flamer goes much faster than 
with a fair wind and a moderate sea. I 
conclude that this is the case with all 
