It was one of the largest belonging to the Occidental Company.

It carried no emigrants and had a passenger list of fashionable folk.

On the voyage out to Australia the weather was pleasant, save in the Bay of Biscay; there was no sickness on board, and there were many opportunities for social gaiety, the cultivation of pleasant acquaintances, and the encouragement of that brisk idleness which aids to health.

This was really the first holiday in my life, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Nothing of unusual interest occurred on the outward voyage; for one thing, because there were no unusual people among the passengers; for another, because the vessel behaved admirably.