The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-01-15
CORRESPONDENCE


AsfAANN run ~ tAANA 10 AaANti'.'H
I'VE are permitted to copy portion of
a letter from MIR. Fred. Nc Eowan, writ
ten TO his relatives here. 1t will be of
general interest to many Others as well.
En-
On BOARD YACHT SULTANA,
Dec. 10Th, 1890
Another three weeks OF sailing and the
gallant Sultana rests safely and peace
fully in smooth water, with the satisiac-
ton of having completed the longest and
most trying stretch of her ocean trip. We
left Bermuda three weeks ago yesterday.
After day or two of fair weather struck
a blow which carried away jib-bOom and
damaged us a little from standpoint of
beauty but not much from one OF
efficiency and seaworthiness.
We "laid to- and waited for the sea
and wind to 90 down which it did in Il
few days, we, in the meantime, being
tossed arOnnd like a man in a blanket,
but in no danger of going to the bottom.
After starting ahead again another. little
blow came galliyanting along, and we
held on fora few days longer after which
we came along like a race-hOrse with
highly favorable wind and weather, and
arrived here quicker than we expected
to. The ocean traveller if he happens to
be out i'm a Storm always says it was the
worst one "the captain ever saw" but
ours didn't say SO; but he seemed to
keep up very serious thinking. Water
of course came on deck and it WASH
advisable to dance the polka unless you
had a hold of something substantial.
As long rs there WAS anything to do
| kept busy and tried to act us though
was brought up ON storms, aud thought
that I'd prefer job on bOb-tail car il
| there was one going towards New York.
But that's all past and gone now and we
are in lovely country, amidst mountains,
valleys, vlneyardst fruit, flowers and
! jabbering Portuguese, with now and then
an Englishman.
Upon the arrival of the yacht we were
surrounded by native boys anxious t.
| dive for coins. We could throw out q
coin on one side of the ship rs far as we
thought they would dive from their boats
on the opposite side of the ship going
down under our keel and get that coil
before they came up. 1t would seem
about week before they made then
appearances but you can rest assured thai
they would have that coin if it took q
month, and sure enough, suddenly ont
little chap would pop up with IL safely
clutchcd in his chubby little fist, SWIM
back to his boat and jaObCr for another
chance to show his submarine efficiency
Other buas had fiuIt, vegetables
monkeys, parrots and Embellishments Of
various descriptions, which could he pur
chased very cheap.
The town streets are paved with small
stones, very slippery, and the convey
anceS consist OF two wooden runners sur
mounted by basket ana are drawn ON
oxen. 1t is very comfortable arrange
ment aud much more than a WhecIct
vehicle would be. The streets being ST
steep hat in places You KIND OF icei a!
though you were going to be pitched
out on the oxen. There lew horses
are used Tor ndlng olliS, ana hlaghlhceh
ones they are too Yesterday we ascehdeo
one OF the highest peaks about OOoO lee
above the sea icYel. Inc gentlemen ria
ing on horseback ana the i'uleS ociiis
carried IN IammockS Oy natives ON Ioo'
The roads IN places as you winu YOU
way up are quite htiI""'So hi"Cm SO Ii'a
you have TO keep along Single ne, VIII
great rocks ON one slUe ana yaWlllht
preclWce ON the other, VarElhg from lOo'
To- 1000 feet deep. Inc hlSheNt peaks art
above tie ciou Is.
Coming down Is more iun Lhan gong
up as the mountain we aScGhueu mas u
return road tco steep to rae up SO yoV
send your horses back by the guides ant
get INTO q regular sea Steeieu Oy 'W'
men, tell them to let her 60 and you