Wednesday, April 11th.—­Hotter than ever.  We could see a steamer in the far distance.  About sunset we passed through a shoal of flying-fish; the night was intensely hot, and everybody slept on deck.

Friday, April 13th.—­At 6 a.m. we made the island of Sokotra, and about seven o’clock saw ‘The Brothers,’ two islands where large quantities of turtle and ambergris are found.  Though generally uninhabited, they are sometimes visited by the natives for the purpose of collecting articles of commerce.

One of our large pigs took it into his head to jump overboard to-day.  The helm was put round as quickly as possible, but the most anxious spying could not discover any trace of poor piggy’s whereabouts; so we proceeded on our original course for a few minutes, when suddenly, to our great astonishment, we saw him alongside, having been nearly run down, but still gallantly swimming along.  The dingy was lowered and two men sent in pursuit.  They had, however, no easy task before them, for as soon as they approached, piggy swam away faster than they could row, and bit and fought most furiously when they tried to get him into the boat.  It was a good half-hour’s work before he was secured, yet when he arrived he did not appear to be in the least exhausted by his long swim, but bit and barked at everybody so furiously that he was condemned to death, to prevent the possibility of further accidents.  It is quite clear from the foregoing incident that some pigs can swim, and swim very well too, without cutting their own throats in the process.

All the afternoon a large steamer had been gradually gaining on us.  We exchanged signals and made out that she was the ‘Calypso’ (?) of Glasgow.  About half-past five she altered her course and came alongside to speak us.  The fore-deck was crowded with the crew.  On the bridge were many of the officers; and sitting bolt upright on a stool, ‘looking out forward’ in the most amusing manner, was the captain’s little Skye terrier.  The stern was crowded with passengers, of every shade of colour.  To our surprise a voice from among them shouted out ‘Three cheers for Mr. Brassey!’ which was responded to by ringing shouts from all on board, and taken up again by some of our own men.  It was a very pleasant and unexpected greeting to hear in the middle of the Indian Ocean.  The ship soon drew ahead again, but handkerchiefs and caps were waved till their owners faded away into the distance.  Meeting and passing thousands of people as you at home do daily, you can hardly understand the excitement a little incident like this causes on board ship, where even a distant sail in these lonely oceans makes everybody leave his occupation and crowd to look at her.  Soon after sunset we saw the island of Abd-al-Kuri, with its fantastic peaks, melting into orange, gold, and purple tints, beneath the gorgeous Arabian afterglow.