Repacked the curiosities and purchases from Canton and Hongkong, and made up our accounts.

About noon we passed a tall bamboo sticking straight up out of the water, and wondered if it were the topmast of some unfortunate junk sunk on the Paranella Shoal.  There were many flying-fish about, and the sunset was lovely.

Sunday, March 11th.—­We feel that we are going south rapidly, for the heat increases day by day.  The services were held on deck at eleven and four.

About five o’clock I heard cries of ‘A turtle on the starboard bow,’ ‘A wreck on the starboard bow.’  I rushed out to see what it was, and the men climbed into the rigging to obtain a better view of the object.  It proved to be a large piece of wood, partially submerged, apparently about twenty or thirty feet long.  The exposed part was covered with barnacles and seaweed, and there was a large iron ring attached to one end.  We were sailing too fast to stop, or I should have liked to have sent a boat to examine this ‘relic of the sea’ more closely.  These waifs and strays always set me thinking and wondering, and speculating as to what they were originally, whence they came, and all about them, till Tom declares I weave a complete legend for every bit of wood we meet floating about.

Tuesday, March 13th.—­About 2.30 a.m. the main peak halyards were carried away.  Soon after we gybed, and for two or three hours knocked about in the most unpleasant manner.  At daybreak we made the island of Pulu Lapata, or Shoe Island, situated on the coast of Cochin China, looking snowy white in the early morning light.

The day was certainly warm, though we were gliding on steadily and pleasantly before the north-east monsoon.

Wednesday, March 14th.—­The monsoon sends us along at the rate of from six to seven knots an hour, without the slightest trouble or inconvenience.  There is an unexpected current, though, which sets us about twenty-five miles daily to the westward, notwithstanding the fact that a ‘southerly current’ is marked on the chart.

March 16th.—­There was a general scribble going on all over the ship, in preparation for the post to-morrow, as we hope to make Singapore to-night, or very early in the morning.  About noon Pulo Aor was seen on our starboard bow.  In the afternoon, being so near the Straits, the funnel was raised and steam got up.  At midnight we made the Homburgh Light, and shortly afterwards passed a large steamer steering north.  It was a glorious night, though very hot below, and I spent most of it on deck with Tom, observing the land as we slowly steamed ahead half speed.

CHAPTER XXIV.

SINGAPORE.