It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the prosperous voyage.

What she really loved was to hang over the edge and watch the bow of the ship slice through the waves. She loved it especially when the waves were high and the ship rose and fell, or when it was snowing and the flakes stung her face.

The ship was masted according to the proportion of the navy; but on my application the masts were shortened, as I thought them too much for her, considering the nature of the voyage.

Imagination is as good as many voyages - and how much cheaper!

She watched the gap between ship and shore grow to a huge gulf. Perhaps this was a little like dying, the departed no longer visible to the others, yet both still existed, only in different worlds.

The boat from India was a crowded place; all long sea voyages on boats feel crowded. When you are stuck at sea for weeks there is nowhere to escape from people.