Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-06-05
For the Ellsworth American
A Voyage Around the World.

For the Ellsworth American
A Voyage Around the World.
Dear Editor:
A voyage around the world may suffice
Tor politics or compulsory pilotage. a,
both of the latter subjects are not disturb
ing the quiet slumbers of any portion OF
the American people at the present time
and as free trade has not ruined our com.
merce. we can lie. these subjects rest until
they spring into life again and call forth
some action worthy of notice.
must confess my inability Of telling
my own experience. The great am has
no portion of my attention. | cannot tell
what have actually seen with any degree
OF faculty to make 1t interesting reading.
msy however put together s sufficient
quantity Of material to make 1t worthy OF
your readers attention. sailed from
New York July 10Th, last year. bound TO
| Algoa Bay. South Africa, and arrived
there after passage Of "A days. Algoa
Bay Is an open roadstead-open TO winds
from south to east Strong gales prevail
there from the southeast during the months
| Of August, September and October, the
| two latter months In particular More
disasters are recorded in the months OF
September and October than In all the re-
naming ten months OF the year. After
lying there twenty days and getting the
81
Mauritlus. The lower portion Of the city
OF Port Elizabeth (Algux Bay Is built
very near the sea wall, and with strong
wind from the southeast the heavy sea
breaks against the wall with such forre
- -. ..:..--- -. - -
but comfortable where you see ships all
around riding bows under water, not know
ing what moment ali extra gust Of wind or
heavy sea will part your cable aud cast
your ship hopeless wreck upon the shore.
1t was certainly a relief 10 get TO sea
and after Is days We arrived the tth. of
November at Port Louis (Aauritius.)
| This is one Of the finest harbors In the
world. To come from place Ike Algoa
Bay 10 the land-locked hsrbor OF Port
Louis was indeed a treat. You received
nv letter from Mauritius, so l need not
write another description Of the place. Suf-
| fee 1t TO say that one will never lose the
| impression that the lovely scenery Of this
| island abounds In. The railroad travel
among the mountains is very slow, neces-
STATED by the steep grades Of one foot in
seventeen. | left the city one day with
the L. S Consul. Mr.. T. T. Prentis, TO go
to his residence In the mountains, dis
tance of ls miles. where We arrived after
two hours ride on the railroad When
we left the city the thermometer WAS
98 deg In the shade, and when We arrived
at his home, two hours later, at an eleva-
ton of 5000 feet above the sea, the ther-
mometer showed the temperature 70 be
so deg. Such a change obliges one 10
shiyer with cold unless he has thick cloth
ing st haLd.
The 18th of November We sailed for Ho
bart. Tasmania and after a passage OF
"a days arrived December 23rd at our des
tination No finer climate or country have
| ever visited than the old convict depo
of Van Diemens Land, now called Tas
mania, harbor sheltered from all winds
with water to accommodate the larges
/ vessels in the world. The city of Hobart
sitnated at the base of Mt. Wellington
presents fine view when approaching it
| also wrote letter at this place and
repetition is unnecessary at this time. !
visit was made to Port Arthur, the plac
where the convicts were kept, some 2
n miles from the city. and other places o
q interest.
We sailed January llth for Wellington
+, New Zealand, where We arrived the l9t
of the same month. This place is stua'
ed at the south entrance of Cooks Strait.
and is a completely land-locked hal
Dor some seven miles broad, where th
fleets of the world could ride with safety
It Is without exception the most commt
dious harbor that ever l was In. tits SUI
rounded by hills from which the wind
blow with great force. The city Of We
lington contains 35 900 inhabitants and
the seat Of government for the two II
lands The land around the city and il
immediate vicinity is very barren an
scarcely produces sufficient for tho.
who live on it, without having surplr
for the market. The climate is very fin,
the exports are wool fax and frozen mea
The frozen meat industry Is thriving ar
more ships load with this export than ar
Of the others. Every two weeks there
( q direct steamer from London via the ca
of Good Hope. These steamers make Il
:. passage in 45 days, including stop
: Tenerine, Cape Town and Hobart.
" Two shipping companies monopoli
: nearly the entire trade with England, al
. it is rarely, If ever. ship charters I
England unless engaged by either t
- New Zealand Shipping Company or Sha
Savill Albion Company. The people
New Zealand are rather un-English 90
( as royalty is concerned. 1t is seldom,
ever, any one can hear "God save
=. Queen" or any other mention Of the r.
a'e al family The Earl Of Onslow, the pr
ent Governor General, came to'Wellingt
d. while was there. There were about
people to meet him At the landing. ]
- next dayI witnessed the arrival Of
an crack rifle shot Of New Zealand, who
me- brought home the belt from the south
rge, land. No less than fur thousand
,ow him at the landing and his carriage
?. drawn through the streets ty the peoI