The steamer _Roland_ is going to the town of Tamatave, which is about a hundred versts from our anchorage. The hospital-ship _Orel_ arrived from Capetown and brought newspapers. The officers of the _Orel_ say that in the streets of Capetown you constantly hear Russian spoken; that is, by Jews from Russia. There are some thirteen and a half thousands of them. Many of them have fled from Russia in order to escape their military obligations. The Jews so besieged the _Orel_, wishing to look over her, that at last the police had to drive them away from the ship. _December 17th._--The _Roland_, when coming out of Tamatave, signalled that the _Malay_ was coming in. A schooner flying the Swiss flag has arrived here--schooner of a country where there is no sea! The _Malay_ has arrived. It does not do to believe all the news from the fleet. For instance, to-day a telegram was sent _viâ_ Tamatave, saying we had coaled near Durban. Nothing of the kind occurred. It was telegraphed to alarm the English and compel them to institute an inquiry. In one word, to make them show that they had not broken their neutrality. The _Orel_ brought the captain of the _Suvaroff_ the _Novoe Vremya_ (New Times) and _Birgevya Viedomosti_ (Bourse News) from Capetown. How eagerly we read them! Our fleet lies in the strait between the islands of Madagascar and St. Mary. To-day we were informed from St. Mary that two ships were lying on the other side. Was it from these ships we received signals? They suppose them to be Japanese cruisers, and fear for the _Roland_. She has not returned. If there are Japanese cruisers here they might easily catch her and send her to the bottom. It is very probable that the ships coming _viâ_ Suez are lying in the Mozambique Channel, off Madagascar (near the western shore). As yet we have no news of them. _December 18th._--To-day the admiral and several officers of his staff went to the island of St. Mary. I did not want to go, so did not take advantage of the opportunity. The steamer _Esperanza_, which is bringing provisions for the fleet, has not yet arrived. She had to call at Capetown, and then follow us here. Perhaps we shall remain off the island here for a prolonged time. Evidently the term of our stay depends on the answer to the telegram sent to Petersburg. To-morrow a steamer arrives (French), and leaves on the 21st, taking the mails. The _Roland_ has not yet returned. Where the rest of the ships are is not known. The question of the return to Russia of the _Malay_ is definitely settled. She is to go to the Black Sea. Her stores will be taken in the other transports. She goes from here _viâ_ the Suez Canal, taking the sick and feeble from the fleet. That will be one burden the less. _December 19th._--I have been to St. Mary to-day. The trip began by our scarcely reaching the shore. It was rough, and a head sea began to pour over the cutter. I was wet through, and cursed myself for coming.