Thurs. 20 [20 January 1898] Certainly the hottest day we have yet
spent. Our tender was due to start at 10. We waited on the wharf for
an hour and on the tender for another hour and a half. Made friends
with an American, Mr Strang, and the two Miss Storms with their little
dog. Our boat was anchored under the islands - it all looked very
lovely, the hill clad islands, the green hilly mainland with Panama
standing out on a long spit into the sea. City of Para is our boat, very
comfortable, deck cabins, excellent food but not much room to walk
about. Furiously hot. Sat and dripped helplessly all the afternoon
then got into white clothes and felt better. We got off about 6.30 but
stuck on a sandbank for two hours! We sit with the Pattinsons and an
American bore at the Purser's table. The Purser is very frizzy and
curly, he wears a turn down collar and a large diamond pin! Sat on
deck and talked to our new American friends.