beries, which, though hotter than the temperature on board ship, were exquisitely refreshing and delightful. Here, for some days, dances, picnics, rides, walks about the picturesque ravines, and cricket-matches, formed the chief occupation. A farewell waltz was danced on board ship, and the deck was like a brilliant May-day, crowded with ladies wearing gay sashes inscribed with the name of our good ship Forte. Our next fête was on the Queen's birthday, when the poop was gracefully hung round with large silken colours, and the Admiral gave a bountiful entertainment. The crossing of the Line was duly commemorated in the old nautical style, with douche baths, and effective applications of steam-hose in the hands of joyous young middies.

The lottery as to the hour of arrival at Rio de Janeiro was won by the only lady on board; and on entering the magnificent bay-a most lovely sightwe were saluted by a perfect storm of cannon and music from the Brazilian, French, and American menof-war lying off the town. On landing, the mule carriages, the dingy sallow look of the people, the dazzling displays of jewellery, and the artificial flowers made from the feathers of gaily-plumaged birds, particularly struck us; and a drive to the botanical gardens to see the avenue of betel-palms, and a walk to the neighbouring woods, deepened the interest of Rio. As cholera raged in the town, several parties took steamer to the head of the bay, passing richly-foliaged islands in their course. Hence, forty miles of rail, through swamp and forest, brought us to the foot of mountains, which we ascended in omnibuses drawn by four mules, passing on the way others, handsome

animals, laden with bales of goods for the interior. The drive was most interesting, every curve in the Simplon-like road unfolding fresh beauties. Treeferns, the papau, and air-plants of every colour, clothed the hill-sides. At dusk we reached Petropolis, a hill sanatorium, where we remained two or three days, enjoying its many natural beauties and the fine cool air.

Embarking again at Rio, the day after we left shore our attention was arrested by the cry of "Man overboard!" The life-buoy was slipped and the cutter lowered. We saw the poor fellow struggling with the buoy, and then disappearing; but he was picked up, and the ship stood on her course again, the whole taking place in less time than I have taken in mentioning the fact. Oddly enough, the hero of the scene got a fortnight's salt-water grog for having been in some forbidden place when the accident occurred. During the night of the 22d June, the tramping, rushing to and fro, and shouting of commands on deck, told there was a storm, and sleep was impossible. Sixteen hours afterwards, the sea still raging in striking magnificence, and the ship running along at eleven knots, the cry was again heard "Man overboard!" and every one sprang to his feet. Such was the discipline that, from the time I first heard the alarm till I saw the boat lowered in charge of two of the officers, Wilkinson and Gye, only two minutes elapsed. The man is seen clinging to the buoy; in the dusk of evening he is lost sight of; the boat also disappears; the suspense is painful; "burn a blue light;" the boat nears the ship; every one holds his breath, till at length the simple words, "All right, sir!" convey joy and gladness to

4

CAPE MOUNTED RIFLES.

all. The hardy English tar who had caused such excitement, actually assisted in rowing the boat back to the ship. We, of course, had our storm off the Cape -a midnight scene; and though we had four boats washed away, our mainyard sprung, and water rushing wildly through our cabins, the noble ship bore the strain most gallantly, anchoring the following day, 4th July, in Simon's Bay.

Sir George Grey, the Governor of the Cape, whom the Forte was conveying to his seat of government, was a true friend to our expedition, and evinced the deepest interest in its progress. By his influence we obtained a grant of £300 from the Cape Parliament to supply us with a dozen baggage - mules. Two honourable members, who formed the minority, when the question was put, sagely remarked that "It was nothing to them where the source of the Nile was; every one knew it was south of the equator; not a bad guess! In the Governor's body-guard, when he called for volunteers to cross Africa, there was not even this minority-not a dissentient voice was heard ; all wished to go, and we selected ten-a corporal and nine privates of the Cape Mounted Rifles. When paraded for our inspection, they reminded me of the Goorkas of India. On the 16th July two teams of beautiful bays pulled up at the Admiral's house, Simon's Bay, where we then were, conveying these ten volunteers, who sat in the open four-wheeled vans looking very smart with their red caps, much to the envy of some Forte marines, who would have liked to go with us.

The embarking of the unmanageable mules was kindly effected by Mr Wilkinson of the Forte; and hav

ing bidden adieu to all her officers, we sailed that night for Zanzibar in H.M.'s steam-ship Brisk, 16 guns, Captain De Horsey. Sir Henry Keppel and Staff, on a tour of inspection, were also on board. The first night was one of intense discomfort. We were shut up within the walls of a screen-berth 10 feet by 10, the cots bumping against each other, a rolling sea, and half-a-dozen mules kicking and neighing in their misery all night long, and directly overhead. The officers, however, were extremely kind, and their wardroom so cheerful, that we soon forgot these midnight annoyances. Every morning a man named Long, a sailor, who said "he knew how to manage mules, as his mother kept a team,” would report that the mules were "all alive." This was very superfluous news, for we had been hearing their music overhead all night. Often at dinnertime Long would take the favourable opportunity of exercising his mules about the deck, and giving the middies a chance of a ride. At roll-call of a Sunday, some of the names of the crew sounded very oddly. For instance, three Kroomen dignified themselves with the titles of "King John," "Soda-water," and "Prince of Wales;" while my servant answered to the name of "April." He was a jet-black man, and one of the "Tots" (Hottentots), whose first essay as valet much amused us. I had never had pillow-slips on board, and he, thinking that I ought to possess them, found one for me the first night in the shape of my empty clothes-bag-a feat most creditable to his ingenuity and sense of cleanliness. On the 27th of July this same gentleman, while in Delagoa Bay, landed in green velvet shooting-coat, tight jockey-trousers, and neat regimental cap-quite a swell in compari

son with his master; but though he was considerably blacker than the natives there, and very probably came originally from the same stock, he told me that he did. not understand a word of their language-a curious instance of negro affectation. These Delagoa men were the first genuine Africans I had made acquaintance with-bright-witted apparently, slim, and very ugly, with a wild avaricious look, eating and drinking anything you chose to offer them, and scrambling for the fag-ends of your cigars-all in strong contrast to the gentle Hindoo. What surprised me was, that near their conical grass huts they kept pigs, which are rarely seen near an Indian village. The breed was a very good short-nosed black kind. Two vessels in the harbour, manned by East Indians, were pronounced by the "Prince of Wales," and others who boarded them, to be fitted up for slaves; but the Portuguese governor assured us that no slaver had visited Delagoa since the last English man-of-war was there a year ago. This did not remove our suspicions, for the flat-roofed houses in the bazaar had every appearance of being receptacles for slaves.

On the night of the 1st August the Admiral indulged us all by landing on the uninhabited coral island of Europa. He was the first to "turn a turtle," and in low water capsized and sat upon the animal all alone, while a jolly middie, named O'Rouke, ran for help. The beast was so strong that he was carrying the "light weight" out to sea by the use of his flappers, which acted to some purpose on the making tide, and on the Admiral's legs in particular. The doubtful struggle lasted an hour and a half, when some sailors came up and towed the vanquished turtle ashore