Large herds of cattle browse on the baked deposit
at the foot of these large crags. One or two half-savage herdsmen
in sheepskin kilts, &c., ask for cigars; partridges whirr up on
either side of us; pigeons coo and nightingales sing amongst the
blooming oleander. We get six sheep and many fowls, too, from the
priest of the small village; and then run back to Spartivento and
make preparations for the morning.
'June 18.
'The big cable is stubborn and will not behave like his smaller
brother. The gear employed to take him off the drum is not strong
enough; he gets slack on the drum and plays the mischief. Luckily
for my own conscience, the gear I had wanted was negatived by Mr.
Newall. Mr. Liddell does not exactly blame me, but he says we
might have had a silver pulley cheaper than the cost of this delay.
He has telegraphed for more men to Cagliari, to try to pull the
cable off the drum into the hold, by hand. I look as comfortable
as I can, but feel as if people were blaming me. I am trying my
best to get something rigged which may help us; I wanted a little
difficulty, and feel much better.
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