LOCOMOTION.
XIX
this case must share the berth of its attendant. Two children are
entitled to a berth for themselves. The tickets of the Messageries
Impe'riales are available for four months, and the voyage may be
broken at the passenger's discretion. It may here again be
remarked that the rival French companies Fraissinet and Vale'ry
reduce their fares from 20 to 30 per cent according to circum¬
stances. At the same time it should be borne in mind that these
vessels usually stop to discharge their cargoes during the day, and
proceed on their voyage at night.
The saloons and berths of the first class are comfortably
and elegantly fitted up, those of the second tolerably. Pas¬
sengers of the second class have free access, like those of the
first, to every part of the deck.
Luggage. First-class passengers are allowed 100 kilogr.
{= 2 cwt.), second class 60 kilogr. (= 135 lbs.), but articles
not intended for the passenger's private use are prohibited.
Food of good quality and ample quantity is included in the
first and second-class fares (except in the vessels of the Florio Co.J.
The difference between that provided for first and for second-class
passengers is inconsiderable. Dejeuner a la fourchette is
served at 10, consisting of 3 — 4 courses, tolerable table wine ad
libitum, and a cup of coffee. Dinner is a similar repast between
b and 6 o'clock. At 7 p. m. tea is served in the first, but not
in the second class. Passengers who are too ill to partake of tbe:>e
repasts are furnished with lemonade etc. gratuitously. Refreshments
may of course be procured at other hours on payment.
Fees. The steward expects 1 1. for a voyage of 12—24 hrs..
more if the passenger has made unusual demands upon his time
or patience.
Embarcation. Passengers should be on board an hour be¬
fore the advertised time of starting. The charges for conveyance
to the steamboat (usually 1 1. for each pers. with luggage) are
fixed by tariff at all the sea-ports, and will be found in the Hand¬
book. Passengers should therefore avoid all discussions on the
subject with the boatmen, and simply direct them to row "al Va-
ticano", "alia Bella Venetia", or whatever the name of the vessel
may be. En route, the boatman generally makes a demand extra¬
vagantly in excess of the tariff: 'Signore, sono cinque lire!" to
which the passenger may simply reply: "avaiiti! " On arriving at
the vessel, payment should not be given to the boatman until the
traveller with all his luggage is deposited on deck. The wild
gesticulations of the boatman, who has perhaps calculated upon
the credulity of his passenger, but receives no more than his due
(which is ample remuneration), may be enjoyed with malignant sere¬
nity from the deck, as on that "terra sacra'' disputes are strictly
prohibited.
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