ational anthem. An analysis of
the sounds of this multitudinous chorus of men's voices, was a very
interesting, though not a difficult matter. The sweet cadence of the
Frenchmen's low cheer was clearly a distinct sound from the Russian's
ursine growl; whilst the Englishmen's "hip, hip, hurrah!" if not so
musical as the first, nor as bearish as the second, was a more honest
sound than either.

On the following evening, after having bundled all our stores on board,
we put back to Hakodadi for coal and to allow the admiral to turn over
to the "Modeste."

August 6th.--Off for Hong Kong by the Japan sea passage, touching at
Nagasaki for coal, and hence on to Amoy against a south-west monsoon,
and into the scorching heat of the southern summer. A few hours at Amoy
sufficed us to take in enough coal for the short distance to Hong Kong,
where we had the satisfaction of finding ourselves, without mishap, on
August 18th. Almost immediately the hands were sent on board the "Victor
Emmanuel," whilst the ship was undergoing repairs at Aberdeen.

Whilst resting on the chocks in the dock the extent of the damage
sustained by us was plainly visible; and, when we come to consider, that
fourteen plates had to be removed and replaced by new ones, and this too
in the immediate neighbourhood of the keel, the wonder is that Chinamen
accomplished the cumbrous work satisfactorily.

September 20th.--Exactly one month ago to-day the ship was
docked--to-day she came out; what do you think of that for expedition?
On floating it was found that a slight damage to the Kingston valve had
been overlooked, and as the ship was still making water, it was thought
a second docking would be necessary. Fortunately our very effective
diving staff were able to repair it without the bother and additional
expense of being shored up again.

September 22nd.--A fed-letter day. Why? Oh, only because--"tell it not
in Gath"--the captain "_spliced the main brace_!" Yea, yea, verily! The
fact was, his ship had been got ready for sea in _two days_; hence the
_splicing_.

September 23rd.--We were to have gone to sea to-day, but "_l'homme
propose_." Rumours of an approaching atmospheric disturbance had been
telegraphed from Manilla, within the previous forty-eight hours. Other
usual and confirmatory indications were also observed; the presence of
an unusual number of jelly-fish in the harbour till the sea stank with
them; the lurid appearance of the sunset sky, as if