Recollections of a Happy Life; Being the Autobiography of Marianne North Volume 2

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII WESTERN AUSTRALIA--TASMANIA--NEW ZEALAND 1880 I ONLY stayed a night at Melbourne on my return, and then went on board the great P. and 0. boat, Malwa, and on by it to the harbour of Adelaide; but the sea was very high, and though I had written to warn Dr. S. that I would land and see his famous gardens, I gave up all thoughts of doing so when I saw how it was to be done. We took a whole day landing twenty-four passengers, as no steamer could keep within reach of us for two minutes together. All the twenty-four had to be let down over the side in an arm-chair into a tiny steamer, which was tossing about and knocking itself to pieces against us in the most terrifying fashion, the waves washing over its deck every moment. One girl from the Melbourne Exhibition wanted to go down with a pair of glass vases in her hand. Most of the women fainted before they were stowed away in the little vessel. One little girl alone went down smiling and as if she liked it, close locked in the arms of one of our jolly ship& 39;s officers. It was fearfully cold, and we were all glad to reach the calm and sunny waters of King George& 39;s Sound, and to land on the sandy shore of Western Australia. Mrs. R, the flower-painter I had heard so much of, sent her friend,...