NOTES ON A TRIP HOME.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3874, 31 July 1891, Page 2

NOTES ON A TRIP HOME.

We have been permitted to copy the following interesting notes from the rough diary of Mr M. Caselberg, who, it will be remembered, recently left Masterton for a trip " home:" Steimsbip lonic, Friday, June sth, 1891. New Zealand date, Saturday 6th. Started from Wellington 2nd of if ay, a Saturday. Next day, Sunday, nasty rough sea, the day after again Sunday; it appears it is the custom to lose a day going to England, and to gain a day on coming to New Zealand.From time of leaving for the next five days I was seasick, and therefore miserable. From what I afterwards learnt the bulk of my

fellow passengers were in tne same predicament. I got over my sickness much quicker than I anticipated, and immediately commenced taking my morning bath, and plenty of walking exercise, so much so that I am now the champion walker on board. Mr Levin, who is a good sailor, was very kind to me while I was sick. He came and chatted with me and brought me some grapes, which were very acceptable. Life on board steamer is quite unique. To vary the monotony passengers indulge in juvenile games, in fact they become quite childish again; they laugh on the least provocation, in fa/t little things pleabe them. The men during the day are chiefly in the smoking room, smoking, playing cards, reading novels, or sleeping; the ladies 101 l about in chairs, reading novels. The great events of the day are the meal times, thus : breakfast, 8.80 a.m ; lunch, 1 p.m ; afternoon tea, 4 p.m ; dinner 6 p.m, (until we reach Rio, now 6.30 p.m); then more eating at 9.30. The dinner is the event of the day; ladies dress for it, also gentlemen. We are not a mnain.nl narhv Mrs Tjfwin and one

other lady only sing ; the second saloon people are more talented, they are always singing and playing. Now for the first 18 days after leaving New Zealand, the sea was rough the weather cold but not colder than we have it in Masterton during the winter. The aspect is very dreary, a vast sea, lifeless, no fish, no birds except the large albatross, neither meeting or passing any ships, We appear a spec on the vast ocean. On the 18th day we saw land, a portion of Falkland islands, which was a great event. We did not see land in rounding the Horn, the weather being foggy, which compelled us to keep well out at sea. la clear weather steamers keep cjoser in land. In rounding the Cape I was greatly disappointed with the temperature, so much so that 1 had no occasion to wear my heavy new overcoat. After rounding the Horn the temperature rapidly increased. The lowest at the Horn was 88 deg., while when we reached Rio it rose to 75 deg. We reached Bio early on Monday morning (22 days from Wellington). We landed about 10 a.m. As it is the first time I have seen a large foreign city I must give you my impressions of it. Ist, the largest and finest I have seen as yet. The scenery is not so pretty as entering the Auckland harbour, nor quite so picturesque as 1 the Sydney harbour, but it is more vast, and everything seems on a larger

scale. There seemed to be more ships lying at anchor than in all, our ports put together. Steamers and ships of all nationalities. Now to describe Bio itself, it is an immense town, built of stone, very hign houses and verry narrow streets, a very busy town, full of life, tramcars drawn by mules running in all directions; the streets intersect each other. People, hurrying add bustling about, of all nationalities and colours, talking and gesticulating in a foreign language, making the contrast greater to us just coming off ship. Bio appears to be a rich old city, and very busy. The population is estimated from a half million to a million inhabitants ; the staple commodity is coffee. On landing we found a party of twenty eight to ascend a big steep hill oalled Corcovada. We | first, want, in a tram some four miles I

through the town, then took the tram which ascends the steep hill. It is the steepest ascent I Lave ever made. The Rimutaka grade is quite level compared to this. The pnnciple of the engine is different to the one used on the Rimntaka line. Although worked with a centre wheel, it has a cog wheel working its way up in iron grooves. After ascending some 1200 feet above the sea level, we came to a very large hotel where we had an excellent lunch. Then we ascended another 1000 feet, where we left the

tram and had to walk a few hundred yards to reach the summit of the hill, on which is built a rotunda where bands play, and one obtains a pano* ramio view of Rio and surrounding country. We could see from there the Botanical Gardens, that is & birds eye view, but unfortunately bad not time to see them. The bultt of passengers stayed on shore till midnight. I returned at eight p.m. to the ship, as I could not go to any place of amusement Those who stayed on

shore went to the opera. I should like to have stayed at Bio for a week, so as to have ascertained if any business could be done with it. I made some enquiries, but could not get any satisfactory information. There is a very limited market for potatoes. The first man I met in Bio was tbe Frenchman De la Boche. He was delighted to see me. He has been at Bio four years in a Government billet (so he says) as Interpreter for emigrants. If I had not already made my arrange • 1 ments to go with my party for the day, I would have been glad of his ' company to show me round. However, ' I handed Mr Scott, Miss Mclntyre, her mother, and Miss Hummer over tp him, and they afterwards told me that they had a very enjoyable day. My impression of Bio a' that it is a good business place, that is if one got to understand the language and the people. But I am told it is one of tbe unhealthiest towns in the world. It is winter there now, and the temperature is 75 deg, in midwinter it falls to 7Q deg. What must it be in midsummer ? There are very nice shops, and big stocks of all kinds, chiefly foreign goods. English, French, German, and American jewellery shops are very plentiful. Everybody wears jewellery, especially diamond rings. Bip is celebrated for feathers, flowers, and fans. I also bought some for my daughters. No w I have done with Rio. After leaving it on Tuesday morning, 26th May, the weather got hotter daily, until we crossed the line a fewdays ago, The hottest temperature ' was 84 at noon, bat always tempered with a cool breeze. The temperature is lowerinß now, it being 67 to-day , and it is very pleasant indeed. We expect to reach Teneriffe on Monday morning, so I am writing 1 •• •- *- Aat.oh tbe Coptic there, which tnia m * JU.t.han Wsreachyouafortn>gntei«i«~ I if J wailed' until ffl reach England, , knowing that ybu tore all anxjo.fci and will be glad to bear from me. JUter

telling you about Bio, I will tell you about myself. lam enjoying excel, lent health, and sleep better than I did before I left. I walk a great deal and then read. The bulk of my fellow passengers play oards. We have a nice lot of passengers on board, and they are very nice to me, although I do not participate in their amusements. I take an interest in watch ing them. lam now very glad that I seoured a state cabin, as it is so comfortable and easy, besides having it all to myself. The other passengers envy me. Ah! well, I suppose there is a pleasure in being envied sometimes. We expect to be in London ten days from now. 1 will write you fully ap soon as I arrive in England. M. Caselbeko.