# The Arethusa — Travel Essays character guide

> The Arethusa in Travel Essays by Robert Louis Stevenson.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the undaunted Arethusa

**First appearance:** 0000-an-inland-voyage

## Who they are

A personified ship or boat featured in a narrative episode.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Commissary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/mr_commissary)

_professional_

Mr. Commissary interacts frequently with The Arethusa, likely in an official or administrative capacity.

### [The Cigarette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_cigarette)

_friendship_

The Arethusa and The Cigarette share a companionable relationship, possibly as fellow travelers or allies.

## In the story

### [To Sir Walter Grindlay Simpson, Bart.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters/to-sir-walter-grindlay-simpson-bart)

One of the historic vessels that was sold along with the Cigarette after the barge project failed.

### [Preface to the First Edition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters/preface-to-the-first-edition)

Implied as the companion who accompanied the author on the travels described in the book.

### [Antwerp to Boom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters/antwerp-to-boom)

Follows the Cigarette into the Scheldt.

### [On the Willebroek Canal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters/on-the-willebroek-canal)

One of the two canoes used by the travelers, carrying provisions for lunch.

### [The Royal Sport Nautique](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters/the-royal-sport-nautique)

One of the two canoeists; he addresses the young boating lads and struggles to hide his ignorance of racing during conversation.

### [At Maubeuge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters/at-maubeuge)

The narrator's companion, who is repeatedly singled out by officials and mistaken for a spy despite being a British subject.

### [At Landrecies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters/at-landrecies)

Also grows sleepy and returns to the hotel with the Cigarette.

### [Epilogue to An Inland Voyage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters/epilogue-to-an-inland-voyage)

The lean, ill-dressed traveler who carries Charles of Orléans' works, is mistaken for a pornographic peddler and a beggar, and is arrested at Châtillon-sur-Loire.

### [Steerage Types](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters/steerage-types)

Referenced as the ship on which the steerage passengers travel.

### [San Francisco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters/san-francisco)

Not directly mentioned; not included.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters/the_arethusa
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/travel_essays_se/characters