OFF TO SOUTH AFRICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2231, 3 December 1896, Page 47

OFF TO SOUTH AFRICA.

By Cigabette.

"Last train for passengers by Thermopylae leaves Flinders street at 3 p.m." This was the notice which appeared in the Melbourne Argus on Thursday, bo I immediately made up my mind to form one of the passengers In the, train and take a* peep at the South African voyagers before they sailed. So taking a ticket for Fort Melbourne, whence thg Thermopj]se> was to sail, I mingled with the crowd of passengers at Flinders street station and watched ths piles of luggage marked "want6don the voyage" and studied the faces of the travellers who were so soon to bid farewell to Australia. I could not help noticing how cheerful they all looked. Mott of them were men of the •working cl&ts ; but there was also a fair sprinkling of women, and one or two babies, of oouree. "Take your seats, please," shouted the guard. " How, then, hurry up, please," as the usual late passenger came flying alovg the platform ; the bell rang, the doors slammed, and we were off. " Would you mind opening the window 1 " Baid a bugoin-lcoking woman sitting next me. I obeyed, and she thereupon entered into conversation, and asked if I was going to South Africa. I answered "No," and eho then began to dilate on the attractions of Johannesburg, where htr son was rapidly making afcrtune. I asked what washlsprofession, and she said, " He's a contractor ; it's no place for professionals, but builders and contractors do well. There's my son, be gets £7 a wetk and his keep just for superintending, and if he lets a block of wood fall he needn't stoop to pick it up, tbe kafQrs do all the work. He says he's quite spoilt for Mel-, bourne. - Why, if he has a gamo of cricket the kaffirado the fielding ! " I smiled as I thought to myself it couldn't be much of a game; however, I found the old lady's talk so interesting that I asked her what soxt of a climate it was. " Well, my son - says it's much colder than Melbourne ; his last - letter was written in October, and he said he was sitting with a blanket rolled round his feet and a tea cosy on his bead, he was so oold," and she laughed at the picture she had conjured up in her mind. •• Would you like to go there 1 " I aßked. " No," she said ; " I'm only going to see some friends off. I shouldn't care to go myself. Dick cays it's no place for women — it's too rongb. He says he wouldn't like to bring anyone be cared for to Johannesburg. Besides, it's a very wicked place I " j But by this time we had reached Fort Melbourne, and the guard coming in to j collect the tickets put an end to our oon versa- 1 tion. There lay the Thermopylae alongside the wharf, a vessel of 3700 tons. We followed the stream of passengers up the gangway, and after taking a peep into the iocial hall, wbioh was about the size of that of theMoncwai, we went down the companion into the saloon, which was right at the stern of the vessel. However, it was large and airy, and the cabins openicg off ifc were exceedingly comfortable, the bertha being furnished with spring mattresses, and the bathrooms all thatoould be desired. The Btewardesa infoimed me that all the berths were taken, and she had even to turn out cf her own, but as most of the passengers were for Natal and tbe Cape, it would only be for three week?. Leaving the saloon, I made my way to the third-class quarters, and mounting a few steps, was obliged to pause for a few seconds and screw my courage to the sticking point before descending the breakneck ladder which led to the thirdclass accommodation. However, I got down somehow without getting smashed by the boxe3 which were being carried down or crushed by the crowds of people scrambling up. It all seemed very dark and crowded. I stood againet a wooden partition and looked about. A long, narrow deal table, with ledges like fiddles at the side, ran up and down the passage, and on each side of it were wooden benches. I peeped into a dark cupboard with four wooden shelves, and discovered it was a cabin. Two nicely-dressed women were making acquaintance with each other, having discovered they were to share this little den with two more. An American girl who was sitting at the table began to talk to me. She said they were allowed one sheet each, a mattress, and a blanket. "Is there any bath room ? " I asked. She smiled contemptuously at me, and informed me that they were allowed a tin basin, and had to do all then: ablutions in that. Three weeks without a bath— how dreadful, I thought ; one would need a lot of courage to go thirdclass to South Afrloa. But my meditations were suddenly interrupted by the partition at the back of me sliding back, and I was all but precipitated into the darksome cabin of which this gliding panel was the door. Thinking it time to beat a retreat, I lorambled up the breakneck ladder again on to the desk, and walked about inspecting the cages of birds and animal* whioh were ipeing taken Home. There were kangaroos, wallabies, black swans, parrots, cookatoos, and paroquets. 1 wondered how the poor things would Btand the change of climate, Bat war it.beU clanged loudly, wainjDS viel"

tors to leave the ship, and many a face grew sad as the last farewells were said. Little presents were pressed into hands that perhaps will never clasp each other - again, and women with faces swollen with crying tried vainly to keep their tears back. Although I had no friends who were going, my heart felt heavy at the sight of these -farewell?, and turning away I walked down to the bow of the vessel, where a crowd of men were closely packed, some standing half-way up the rigging waving good-bye to their friends. A little party ox Gannons were siDging a farewell hymn; their voices sounded marvellously eweet. A woman at my elbow said to another, as she looked afc the departing travellers, "All the men are leaving Melbourne ; there'll be none left for the gills soon. We shall have to pack them after them." Three xiDgicg cheers went up as the vessel slowly eased away from the wharf. "Good-bye, Hany!" shouted a voice from the crowd ; " who'll be captain of the orioket clab now?" Then more obeers rang out from the boat, handkerchiefs waved, good-byes grew fainter, and the Aberdeen White Star liner steamed slowly down the bay.