have been able to get a sufficient supply to last us
from port to port, which has been a great comfort. The machine at
Colombo unfortunately broke down the day before we left, so that in
the very hottest part of our voyage we have had to do without our
accustomed luxury; and very much we miss it, not only for cooling our
drinks, but for keeping provisions, &c. As it is, a sheep killed
overnight is not good for dinner next day; butter is just like oil,
and to-day in opening a drawer my fingers touched a sticky mess; I
looked and discovered six sticks of sealing wax running slowly about
in a state resembling treacle.

_Wednesday, April 11th_.--Hotter than ever. We could see a steamer in
the far distance. About sunset we passed through a shoal of
flying-fish; the night was intensely hot, and everybody slept on deck.

_Friday, April 13th_.--At 6 a.m. we made the island of Sokotra, and
about seven o'clock saw 'The Brothers,' two islands where large
quantities of turtle and ambergris are found. Though generally
uninhabited, they are sometimes visited by the natives for the purpose
of collecting articles of commerce.

One of our large pigs took it into his head to jump overboard to-day.
The helm was put round as quickly as possible, but the most anxious
spying could not discover any trace of poor piggy's whereabouts; so we
proceeded on our original course for a few minutes, when suddenly, to
our great astonishment, we saw him alongside, having been nearly run
down, but still gallantly swimming along. The dingy was lowered and
two men sent in pursuit. They had, however, no easy task before them,
for as soon as they approached, piggy swam away faster than they could
row, and bit and fought most furiously when they tried to get him into
the boat. It was a good half-hour's work before he was secured, yet
when he arrived he did not appear to be in the least exhausted by his
long swim, but bit and barked at everybody so furiously that he was
condemned to death, to prevent the possibility of further accidents.
It is quite clear from the foregoing incident that some pigs can swim,
and swim very well too, without cutting their own throats in the
process.

All the afternoon a large steamer had been gradually gaining on us. We
exchanged signals and made out that she was the 'Calypso' (?) of
Glasgow. About half-past five she altered her course and came
alongside to speak us. The fore-deck was crowded with the crew. On the
bridge wer