Wednesday, August 31. (Sydney and to sea). Leaving Sydney developed into a melodrama in which Hannibal nearly got left for six weeks more in the none too hospitable embrace of the State of New South Wales. When we got down to the 'Mataram' we learned that there was a possibility of her not stopping at Brisbane on account of the railroad strike in Queensland. We dashed back to town to get some things which we had intended to get in Brisbane, missed each other on the way back, came to the ship to find each other, missed each other again, dashed back to town, missed again, and finally got to the boat just as she was moving out and had to throw our baggage on board. We lay in Sydney harbour all afternoon until the train mail from Melbourne arrived and then sailed through the heads for Brisbane after all. The cruiser 'Sydney' followed us out, bound for a practice cruise to the Solomon Islands, and she looked very beautiful in the evening light with the black smoke pouring from her funnels and her signal halyards dressed. The course from Sydney to Brisbane lies close to the shore all the way, the favorable drift that sets in near the coast being of great assistance. It is thus possible to gain a fine view of the long sand dunes reaching along with the high green moun- tains far behind them. Here and there is a light house, a small settlement, a sheep station, or an isolated farm. For the most part it is deserted and possesses a certain bleak charm to the traveller. Thursday, September 1. (At sea). The 'Mataram' has never transported the Prince of Wales across the Pacific or anything like that. Perhaps she is the only conveyance that has not been patronized by that gentleman,- it seems that way in Australia. Her speed is nine knots, at the very best expansion, under ideal