enjoyment, I mean--to its devotees. It must be,
and I know it is so, that every one such feels ashamed of himself
afterwards, and calls himself by hard but honest adjectives when the
"bad head" period comes on.) I am thankful to state that our other cases
recovered, though not until almost all hope had well-nigh gone.

November 22nd.--To-day the long-expected flying squadron arrived, and
took up positions ahead of us. The following ships comprised
it--"Inconstant" (flag), "Bacchante," "Cleopatra," "Tourmaline," and
"Carysfort."

For days past much activity has existed amongst the junk fleet in this
neighbourhood. Dozens of these trim-built and picturesque-looking craft
have lately accumulated here to give the princes a proper reception. Day
after day they have duly gone through some extraordinary and to us
meaningless evolutions, all flags, gongs, yells, and gunpowder.

November 24th.--Leaving the squadron to the joy and festivities of
Shanghai, once more we head for Hong Kong. We thought then it was for
the last time; but hopes have been shattered so frequently of late that
we were not prepared to bet on it.

Whilst at anchor, awaiting the tide to cross the outer bar, our
attendant pilot boat came to grief under our bows. Everybody who knows
anything of Chinese rivers--of the Yangtsze in particular--will have
often remarked how great a velocity the current attains at near low
water, making boating alongside a ship an almost impossible and
extremely hazardous proceeding. The water hisses, seethes, and boils
past the sides as if the ship was under weigh in a heavy sea; thus when
the little vessel reached our bows there was nothing to save her.
Fortunately she came down upon us in such a manner that she escaped with
the loss of mainmast and sail, whilst a little damage was done to our
head-gear in the scrimmage.

November 30th.--Again the well-known rig of the Canton fishing junks
heaves in sight, and ere long the equally well-known outline of Victoria
Peak, the most welcome sight on the station, after all said and done. In
a few hours that prince of bumboat men, old Attam, had paid us a visit,
giving us a kindly welcome, with his good-tempered, ever-smiling, and
flat celestial face.

December 20th.--To-day at noon the flying squadron came in from the
northward. Their arrival was awaited by eager and expectant crowds
thronging the shore, in anticipation of witnessing the landing of the
young royal middies. In this