ists. This equipage had such a holiday look about it,
that one of our fellows irreverently asked if "Sanger's circus was
coming!"

Only a day at Saigon, and off again. Instead of shaping course direct
for Hong Kong we hugged the coast of Cochin China, thinking thus to
cheat the monsoon. In this we were mistaken, for the wind and sea proved
so strong that lower yards and topmasts had to be struck. Thus it was
not until the 25th, and after hard steaming, that we reached Hong Kong.

April 16th.--To-day, William Edwards, second captain of the main top,
died in hospital of a complication of debilitating complaints.

April 21st--Started on our yearly trip. Between Hong Kong and Amoy we
encountered a series of baffling fogs, compelling us to anchor for days
at a stretch. One clear day the "Lapwing" passed, bound for Hong Kong.
She had recently been in collision with a Chinese merchant steamer, and
inflicted such telling damage on the latter that now her bones lie
rotting at the bottom of the Formosa channel.

At Amoy we found the first division of the cruising squadron at anchor,
under the command of Captain East, of the "Comus." From Hong Kong here
they had been under the convoy of the admiral, who had, to use an
expression of one of the interested, given them a thorough "shaking up,"
especially in the night watches.

Before sailing the "kit" of our late deceased shipmate was disposed of
at a public auction, and realised the sum of L25. This, together with a
general subscription, allowed us to send the comfortable sum of L100 to
his widow. It is at these sales that one sees the sailor come out
in--what shall I say, a new character? Well, in a way, yes; for he
certainly exhibits a carefulness of thought and an enlargement of the
organ of feeling, for which the world would scarce give him credit
perhaps. I have often thought it the most beautiful trait in an
otherwise rough and crude nature. Let it but be known that a poor woman
is left helpless to struggle through a hard and selfish world, may-be
children to add to her difficulties, then you shall see that the
sailor's heart is in the right place; then all private animosity against
the deceased is swallowed up in the "charity which is kind." The ancient
Romans were not more eager to obtain a memento of dead Caesar than they
for some article of the deceased's clothing; not so much for the sake of
the thing itself, but simply that, by the purchase of it, they may
exercise t