Sketcher.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 29, 21 October 1893, Page 6

Sketcher.

(By Aurora.)

MAORILAND TO BRITAIN.

The passage from Malta to Gibraltar was only short, but it was easily to he seen that all on board were labouring under a kind of “ suppressed excitement.” The thought of being so near home seemed to raise the drooping spirits of those who had been suffering from the excessive heat, or from the still more trying pangs of sea-sickness. The languid became suddenly brisk, and the indifferent assumed an air of conscious importance. Those who had been away from home for some years were SO restless and fidgetty that they scarcely knew what was the matter with them. Those who were nearing British shores for the first time were filled with wonder as to what their first impressions would be. All had, to some extent, something to interest them, and all did their utmost to appear calm and self-possessed. We got in to Gibraltar very early in the morning, though not so early but that the greater part of the passengers were on deck. The approach to the “ big rock” is a very gradual one. The steep precipitous rock with its rugged sides forms a very imposing sight. A number expressed disappointment and had imagined that it would be much higher and bigger, but for my own part I was perfectly satisfied, and did not think that I should care to have to pit an enemy in battle array against it. One glance at it will show how it has earned the title “ TheKey of the Mediterranean,” and one can understand perfectly the reason why Englishmen would be very reluctant to part with it. There it . stands, a solid rock, looking as though it could defy the combined forces of the whole world. On the opposite shore is the low-lying coast of North Africa, the contrast between the two coasts being most marked. From the ship, with the aid of a powerful glass, wr could discern the cannons placed up and down amongst the shrubbery and trees; these are painted green, the colour of the trees and grass, so that only a practised eye could discover them. Ten minutes good rowing soon brought us to the shore, and as we had only a couple of hours at our disposal, we thought we could make the best use of our time by getting into a carriage and having a drive round. Travelling of this kind is very cheap at all the stopping places, and if a party can be organised it really only amounts to a trifle for each one. Gibraltar, like most garrison towns, is very ordeily and well kept. It seems almost wonderful that the English have kept possession of it so long, considering that the Spanish and Portuguese territory lies so near ; a very short drive took us away from English ground altogether. There is not a great deal to be seen. We visited, as usual, several of the shops; the principal things to be bought were eau-de-cologne and fans. Some of the fans really were beautiful, most of them being representations of “bull fights ” and other national games. The natives here were just as anxious to swindle us as at any other foreign port. We procured large quantities of grapes at a ridiculously low price. The dates were also very delicious, though we were most of us too near home to bother ourselves with any large quantities. The feelings with which we returned to our ship were very varied the thought that we had said goodbye to our last “ stopping place,” and that a few hours would land us in dear old England tended to excite us somewhat. "A number were leaving us at Plymouth, so that the day pievious was occupied in “ packing up,” and what a “ packing up ” it was to be sure ! Things seemed to get hopelessly mixed up in our little cabins it was a case of “ one at a time, and tread gently.” The last night on board was a most hilarious one. We tried to keep within bounds, but somehow every now and then somebody “overflowed,” and that was thegignal

for others to follow suit. The gentler men gave a big supper, to which all the ladies were invited. A “ mutual admiration” meeting I called it, for from all the speeches which were made one could almost imagine there had not been an unpleasant word spoken during the whole voyage. However, for one night the angular people left their little angularities behind them, and the crooked people became straight. We broke up for the night with a hearty round of “Auld Lang Syne” in good old Scotch fashion, and with various handshakes we said “good night,” knowing well that the morrow would find many of us travelling to the four corners of the British Isles, and that in all probability we should never meet again.