The Orel took the invalid officer to Saigon, in order that he might go back to Russia.
When we were passing through the straits of Malacca a sailor of the Alexander disappeared, with his hammock. They thought he wanted to desert the ship, and had thrown himself overboard, taking with him his hammock, which was covered with cork and floats. When the Bezuprechny received her injury a servant thought she was sinking, and waking all the officers, he put a life-belt into their hands.
There is a goat in that torpedo-boat. They brought her from Nosi Be. During the thirty days' passage she fed only on paper, did not eat hay, and even now refuses it. They nurse her like a baby. All the visiting-cards have been eaten by her. To-day she has been taken for a run on shore.
A boatswain and a sailor were buried to-day. They were killed by a derrick in the Irtish. In almost every port there are victims of accidents in the fleet.
I saw some natives—Annamese. They are of the Malay type, yellow and rather repulsive. They approached the Kamchatka and Bezuprechny, offering to sell various rubbish. The tobacco was quickly bought up, and they paid very dearly for it.
Will the Orel bring me an answer to my telegram? How delighted I should be if I received it!
We are coaling in the Suvaroff. Everywhere there is dirt and nastiness; they are heaping up coal in the wardroom and in the officers' cabins.
1 a.m.—Received your telegram. Many thanks.
April 3rd.—Transport Kamchatka, Kamranh Bay.