S- brought a little dog to amuse
them, such a jolly, ugly little cur without a tail, but full of
fun; he will be better than quinine.
'The wind drove a barque, which had anchored near us for shelter,
out to sea. We started, however, at 2 P.M., and had a quick
passage but a very rough one, getting to Bona by daylight [on the
11th]. Such a place as this is for getting anything done! The
health boat went away from us at 7.30 with W- on board; and we
heard nothing of them till 9.30, when W- came back with two fat
Frenchmen who are to look on on the part of the Government. They
are exactly alike: only one has four bands and the other three
round his cap, and so I know them. Then I sent a boat round to
Fort Genois [Fort Genova of 1858], where the cable is landed, with
all sorts of things and directions, whilst I went ashore to see
about coals and a room at the fort. We hunted people in the little
square in their shops and offices, but only found them in cafes.
One amiable gentleman wasn't up at 9.30, was out at 10, and as soon
as he came back the servant said he would go to bed and not get up
till 3: he came, however, to find us at a cafe, and said that, on
the contrary, two days in the week he did not do so! Then my two
fat friends must have their breakfast after their "something" at a
cafe; and all the shops shut from 10 to 2; and the post does not
open till 12; and there was a road to Fort Genois, only a bridge
had been carried away, &c.
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