I notice that the travelers are mostly Turkomans, with about a score of Europeans of different nationalities, a few Persians, and two representatives of the Celestial Empire.

Evidently their destination is China.

.
The _Astara_ is loaded up.

The hold is not big enough, and a good deal of the cargo has overflowed onto the deck.

The stern is reserved for passengers, but from the bridge forward to the topgallant forecastle, there is a heap of cases covered with tarpaulins to protect them from the sea.
There Ephrinell's cases have been put.