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[Page 20]
At Sea
Sunday July 9th
Dear Father,
We have just left Porto Grande, Cape Verde Islands bound for Lord knows where. Even now we do not know our destination or the next port of call – always supposing there is one, & wherever we go we will have been over two months on board before our final disembarkation.
Exactly one week after leaving Sydney Harbour, we sailed into Albany. The Bight, contrary to all our expectations was remarkably smooth, & we none of us succumbed to mal-de-mer, nor felt the least bit groggy. We anchored in Albany harbour at daybreak on the 25th & what little of the town we could see looked very pretty, built as it is in a valley with the hills behind. No sooner was it night than our troubles began. Two coaling lighters bore down upon us, one making fast to port & the other to starboard. The necessary tackle was rigged up in no time, & soon there began the most infernal & persistent racket it has ever been my misfortune to bear. Basket after basket was tipped into the bunkers, & each load made a row like all the