The Esperance's next port was "Durban, whither she sailed on December 15. There more stores were to be picked up before she rejoined the fleet at Madagascar. When she reached Durban on December 21 the Governor of Natal telegraphed instructions forbidding her to take on more than 300 of the 1,000 tons of coal that had beet ordered. The shipment of stores and vegetables was forbidden, and it was only with great difficulty that sufficient for the needs of the ship itself were taken on board. The Esperance was well-known at Durban, as she bad lain for two years as a store-ship for frozen meat during the South African war, She was ordered to quit the port by 4 p.m. on December 24, and did 80, leaving behind tons of provisions that had been accumulated for shipment.
The crew had caused considerable trouble daring her stay, and ten of the seamen bad to be kept in gaol until she was ready to sail. Worse trouble was to follow, On December 30 the refrigerating machinery broke down altogether. It was impossible to repair it, and half of the meat on board went bad almost immediately, St Marie 1, 1905, and two days later the Chit Madagascar) was reached on Janu
Engineer of the Russian fleet cawe ths {on board to inspect the refrigerating machi Four men were sent from the Kamschatka with instructions to take the plant to pieces. By this time all the ducks, chickens and pheasants on board had been lost, and only the meat in the lower hold remained good. At 6am, oe January 3 the fleet, accompanied by the Esperance, moved a f miles up the coast to a more sheltered Taking advantage of the shu misfortunes, the black crew became very troublesome as soon as Madagascar was reached. They refused to work tan less they were given wine and roast, instead of boiled, beef and extra pay. On January 7 the Esperance put into Antongil Bay on the East Coast, carry-on board " Russian officer who bad to dispatch some legrams and convey instructions to the German colliers to. proceed to Nossi Be and await the fest. Considerable difficulty was experienced in finding the telegraph, office. By this time the refrigerating machinery had been repaired, -but it again broke down, and the expert in charge of it sent ignatian, stating that it was impossible to ran the plant with the men placed at his stock of live—poultry was procured at Antongil Bay, where the Esperance first beard the news of the fall of Port Arthar. As only an ance before she sailed for of the German colliers had pat in
Nossi Be, letters of instructions to the remainder were left with the Governor.
The voyage to Nossi Be was not the most pleasant part of the trip. By this time the meat below had gone quite bad, and the smell was indescribable. Quantities of it were thrown overboard en route, At 10 am. on January 11 the Esperance
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