to help us on our way towards the sunny A kind friend had accompanied me to the ship, and introduced me to Captain Woolward; and, surrounded by the comforts and luxuries of such a noble vessel, I soon found that there was nothing further to be desired. Many have recorded their impressions on leaving England for distant countries; for my own part, I may B SOUTH AMERICAN SKETCHES. CHAPTER I. VOYAGE TO RIO JANEIRO. START FROM SOUTHAMPTON LISBON FELLOW-PASSENGERS MADEIRA-DIVERSA JUMP FOR IT-TENERIFFE FLYING-FISH ARLY in the afternoon of April the 9th, 1861, I sailed EARLY from Southampton in the Royal Mail Company's steamer Magdalena, with a light north-easterly breeze to help us on our way towards the sunny South. A kind friend had accompanied me to the ship, and introduced me to Captain Woolward; and, surrounded by the comforts and luxuries of such a noble vessel, I soon found that there was nothing further to be desired. Many have recorded their impressions on leaving England for distant countries; for my own part, I may B fairly say, that next to the natural regret caused by parting with my friends, the predominant feeling was intense satisfaction at having got rid of all the trouble and worry of preparing for a long absence; and I even derived a grim pleasure from reflecting that it was then quite useless to remember anything that had been forgotten. The cliffs of Old England were soon out of sight as we rushed through the dancing waves with 800 horsepower; the sun set with a clear sky, and when the first stars showed themselves, Great Orion' was exactly over the bowsprit. Having a fancy of my own for considering this a very favourable augury, I turned into bed with the full conviction that we should have a prosperous voyage. We ran through the Bay of Biscay with scarcely a ripple on the sea; saw a glorious sunrise behind the Spanish hills on the 12th; and about six o'clock in the morning of the 13th we were steaming up the Tagus into Lisbon. Four days had made a great change in the temperature: here the hills were covered with the verdure of full spring, and the heat during the middle of the day was too great for walking with any pleasure. I went on shore after breakfast with a fellow-passenger, and by keeping to the shady side of the streets, we managed to explore a good deal of the city; but about two o'clock we were very glad to get some shelter in a cool room of the Braganza Hotel. Two hours later the coaling was over; and, with some |