The Germans installed a small electric fan, taken from the Hitachi, in each cabin, and also one in the saloon.  The cabins were quite suitable for one occupant each, but very cramped for two; the one occupied by my wife and myself being only seven and a half feet square.  Each contained one bunk and one settee, the latter being a sleeping-place far from comfortable, as it was only five and a half feet long by about twenty inches wide, the bunk being the same width, but longer, and the floor space was very narrow and restricted.  Our light baggage had to be kept on the bunk all day, being deposited on the washstand and floor every night.  Our first duty every morning was to replace the baggage on the bunk, so that we could have room to stand on the floor!  There were four cabins, two on each side of a narrow alley-way about two feet wide, while one married couple occupied the Chief Engineer’s cabin further aft on the starboard side, quite a roomy apartment.  The port cabin opposite to it was occupied by an old Mauritius-Indian woman and her little granddaughter (who was often very naughty and got many “lickings” from her grandmother, whom she frequently implored the Captain to throw overboard), the Japanese stewardess, the Australian stewardess already mentioned, and a coloured man going to South Africa with his Chinese wife.  Rather crowded quarters, not to mention somewhat unseemly conditions!  The Asiatic passengers had been “intermediate” passengers on the Hitachi, i.e. between the second-class and deck passengers.  The four men above mentioned occupied a space under the poop—­it could not be dignified with the name of cabin.  It was very small, only one occupant could dress at a time, and immediately in front of it was a reeking pigsty with three full-sized occupants.  The passage to it from the saloon on the upper deck was often a perilous one in rough weather and on dark nights, for there was never any light showing on board at night during the whole cruise.  Occasionally a lifeline was rigged along the well deck to the poop quarters, a by no means unnecessary precaution.  The prize crew had quarters on the starboard side under the poop; they were exceedingly small, cramped, and in every way inconvenient and uncomfortable.  Our heavy baggage was also stored under the poop.

This, then, was to be our home, possibly for the next few months.  We did not know for how long, but we regarded the prospect with a certain amount of equanimity, as the ship was unarmed, and we knew we should not be fired on by a hostile cruiser, as might have been the case if we had remained on the Wolf.

When we arrived on the Spanish boat we were served with meals at the same time to which the Spanish officers had been accustomed, i.e. breakfast at 9 and supper at 4, but these times were soon afterwards changed to breakfast at 8.30, tiffin 12.30, and supper 5.30.  We were lucky to get fresh food for some days.  But this soon came to an end, though the stock of muscatels, a quince preserve—­called membrillo—­and Spanish wine lasted very much longer.  It would have lasted much longer still but for the stupidity of the German sailor who “managed” the canteen.  He allowed stores to be eaten in plenty while there were any, instead of arranging to spread their consumption over a much longer period.