_February 9th._--A "tragic occurrence" took place in the _Suvaroff_ to-day. Some one had eaten a monkey. There remained only a bit of tail and a piece of skin. This is the work of either rats or dogs. I called at a torpedo-boat this morning. The captain and officer were sitting on deck drinking tea. Both were barefooted and in vests and white trousers. I cannot get accustomed to such a sight, somehow. The captain's left foot astonished me. It had only one toe. All the rest had been torn off long ago. The sight of it gave me a queer feeling. To-day there was a court-martial on an officer. In defence of another officer he had written a report in a very insolent manner to the captain. By order of the admiral the officer was dismissed from the _Ural_ in January, and now he is placed on the retired list by the general staff. I do not know how the trial will end. They say he is a very good fellow. The offence of which he is accused is very seriously punished--either by degradation to the rank of sailor or confinement in a fortress. _February 10th._--The court sentenced the officer to be dismissed the service and deprivation of rank. The sentence will go to the admiral for confirmation. The punishment imposed by the court is the lightest possible. It came out that there is much slackness in the _Ural_. The matter will hardly end here, as they say K---- is an obstinate man, and will raise it again in Petersburg. There has just been a storm in a tea-cup. Smoke appeared from a cabin. They manned the pumps and nearly rang the fire alarm. It was discovered that a white tunic lying in a basket had caught fire. They pulled out the basket, drew out the tunic, and the panic subsided. The meat at dinner to-day was bad. I ate a good deal before I discovered what was the matter. I am trying to find a tortoise on shore. If I find one, I shall keep its shell for combs and hairpins for you. From several sources news has been received that there are Japanese ships near Madagascar. The Japanese would hardly be so stupid as to split up their fleet. Things have come to such a pass in our ships that they are positively certain that the fleet will return to Russia on March 15th. They told me this in the _Nachimoff_, announcing this sensational news as the latest trustworthy information. I stayed a long time in the wardroom of the _Nachimoff_, talking to an engineer whom I had known at school. Four sailors of the torpedo-boat _Grosny_ (Menacing) broke into a hut and stole the contents. They were caught. There will be a trial, and they will be severely punished. Is it worth it? The damage is assessed by the negroes at sixty francs, all told. The men will be ruined for a mere trifle.