Charles Rowlands, a tea planter and a cousin of mine, decided to finance a sealing expedition from Australia to Kerguelen [Iles Kerguelen], and since he could not go himself he gave me the opportunity of looking after his interests. I went out in the P&O steamer China, all expenses paid. I left England in the middle of 1897 and arrived in Australia in the early spring. I was paid £100, with all expenses. I shared the officers' cabin and was not to be allowed to do crew duties. I was 22 years old at the time.