Amongst other things, the Portuguese stated that it was known that our ships would call at Great Fish Bay. Curious how this could have been known at Lisbon, where the arrangement to send a man-of-war here was made. Probably they were informed by the English, who jealously watch every movement of our fleet. The hospital-ship _Orel_ has left, and will call at Capetown. We shall go to Angra Pequena from here. The Germans (to whom it belongs) call it Lubevitz Bay. It is situated one thousand versts from here. We leave this to-morrow at two o'clock. _November 23rd._--At anchor in Great Fish Bay. An hour ago I gave my letter to you to be sent to Europe by one of the steamers that is returning. The captains of the steamers had been on shore. They say that the beach is strewn with lovely shells and crowded with red flamingoes. The captain of the Portuguese gunboat told the captains of the colliers that he would forbid any attempt on their part to coal the fleet. What naïveté--or rather, what impudence! I have ordered them to call me at 6 a.m. to-morrow, in order to go to several ships. _November 24th._--From Great Fish Bay to Angra Pequena. I could not sit down and write to you all day. Somehow, everything went wrong. Just as I seated myself I was called away. I was on board the _Borodino_ to-day. I saw some Libreville photographs. They are very small; you cannot make out the faces. At four o'clock all our fleet began to weigh anchor. Two hours later the _Malay_ hoisted a signal that something had happened to her rudder. The _Roland_ was ordered to take her in tow. The hospital-ship _Orel_ is also going with us. Whales and albatrosses are seen more and more frequently. The albatrosses fly a tremendous distance from the land, and are very large; sometimes they measure sixteen to seventeen feet across the wings. Life on board is monotonous. One day is like another. You live in the past (at all events, I do), and dream of the future. _November 27th._--We passed the Tropic of Capricorn to-day. We are approaching Angra Pequena. We have lessened speed, in order to get there in the morning. The flagship's navigator considers that half our voyage will have been completed when we reach the southern end of Madagascar. At Angra Pequena I think we shall get news from the East. The Germans are probably more interested in the war than the French. A sailor in the transport _Korea_ has been seized with dysentery or malaria. God grant that the disease does not spread. Hygienic conditions are disregarded in the fleet. Many go on the sick-list. The wind has risen, the waves have increased. Before entering Angra Pequena boats will be lowered and will take soundings. The place is little known. Some ships might go aground. The post has already been collected. I hope to be able to send this letter to-morrow morning. _November 28th._--Approaching Angra Pequena.