The plantation where we sat eating fruit belongs to a Frenchwoman, a native of this place. We thought her house was a restaurant, and unceremoniously demanded lemonade, water, etc. It then appeared that it was a private dwelling. The Frenchwoman was very friendly--told us about herself and her children, who were being educated in France. She sent two negroes to carry our purchases to the pier. How rich the vegetation is in this place! You seem to be walking in a botanical garden. All around are palms, bananas, lemons, mimosa, lianas, mangoes, baobabs, and wonderful flowers. The trees are immense and lofty. On our return we called at a shop for drink. They gave us cider. If you had been here, what would you not have bought! We purchased all sorts of rubbish--negro instruments, teeth of wild animals, poisoned spears, weapons, etc. In the town we met the negro who was brought by the _Alexander_. He now answers to the name of "Andrew Andrewitch," which was given him by the crew. _November 18th._--I woke early this morning. I had a trip to make to the private transports. 5 p.m.--Leaving Gaboon. About an hour ago we weighed anchor. Our destination is unknown. To-day on board the _Alexander_, which is astern of the _Suvaroff_, they celebrated the crossing of the line. We could see how they capered and splashed water about. In the _Orel_ something has happened to the electrical steering gear, but she is steaming and does not detain the fleet. _November 19th._--At 9 a.m. we began to celebrate crossing the line on board. Neptune, Venus, a navigator, sub-lieutenants, Russian peasant-women, devils, barbers, and tritons arrived on field gun-carriages drawn by black naked people. All this fine company came from the stern of the ship, accompanied by buglers and to the sound of a march, played by the band, which was stationed forward. They approached the fore-turret and climbed on to it. The audience took up their places in the bows, on the bridges, turrets, masts, yards, and crosstrees. The admiral, captain, and officers stood on the bridge. The actors were all half naked, and were painted in the most varied colours--black, green, red, yellow, blue, etc. Neptune had his trident and a great beard of tow. The navigator had a chronometer, binoculars, and a sextant. The peasant-woman had a baby, which was represented by the fox-terrier. When the baby was supposed to cry, they twisted the dog's tail to make him howl.