The great saloon is a very pleasant place for promenading, conversation or reading, when it is too cold or stormy to be on deck. People meet here from all parts of the world, perhaps. They get acquainted and have long talks with each other, and have music, and get up games to help pass away the time. And, when the voyage is over, they separate, with no expectation of ever meeting again, unless some chance should make them fellow-travelers another time. All the children on board are sure to make friends with each other; and they have plenty of room to play on the long decks, and in the saloons, without interfering with the comfort of older persons. [Illustration: THE SALOON OF THE GREAT EASTERN.] It would be a delightful thing to take a voyage on such a magnificent steamer as this. Apart from the pleasure that the ship itself, with all its great machinery and its splendid appointments would afford, there would be the satisfaction of knowing that there is some chance of escaping sea-sickness when on board of the Great Eastern. And any one who ever has been sea-sick would be very apt to appreciate the advantages of a vessel that does not pitch and toss on every ordinary wave. KANGAROOS. In the continent of Australia where there are so many queer plants and animals, lives the numerous, and droll-looking family of the kangaroos. There are several varieties of this family, but all have the same general characteristics; a very large tail, very long hind legs, and very short fore legs. Kangaroos can out-jump the very best jumpers you ever saw, or heard of. They use their long hind legs something in the grasshopper style; and their tails are not only big, but strong, and are of great assistance to them in their leaps. Their flesh is good to eat, and so they are hunted a great deal. Instead of running from their pursuers like the swift-footed hares and antelopes, they jump away from them, and in this manner they get over a great extent of country in a very short time. Running would be impossible to creatures with such ridiculously short front legs; but leaping answers the same purpose; and, as this is their natural mode of progression, they do not get tired any sooner than other animals do by running. The kangaroos are by no means ugly animals; and, though they look awkward when standing on all fours (which they seldom do) they are very graceful while making their leaps. One of the prettiest species of the kangaroo family is called the antelope kangaroo. Its head and ears are similar to those of the antelope in appearance. [Illustration: THE ANTELOPE KANGAROO.]