Arthur David LINKLATER
His ’Journal’
Apprenticed aboard British Princess
10.xii.1895 - 13.iii.1900
| ⚪ | Thursday, 10th Lat 10°20’N Long 110°4’W Dist. 117 miles Clipperton Rock Sandwich or Hawain Group |
Mate expected to see an island 50 miles E. but all of a sudden we saw it about 4 miles W of us. A mere chance we did not run on it, as last night it was as dark as pitch, could not see a hand before you, also raining. Hundreds of different birds about. Mate caught a taller bird. No inhabitants on the island, been a lot of shipwrecks there. From where we saw it, it was shaped something like this |
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| Friday, 11th Lat 11°19’N Long 110°43’W Dist. 70 miles |
When at the wheel from 12 - 2 this morning it rained so hard that oilskins were no use. The mate was always asking me if I was washed away, and what was left of me to hang on to the wheel. Made M and F Royals fast. Ship rolling a bit. Caught another tailor bird. | ||
| Saturday, 12th Lat 13°15’N Long 111°18’W Dist. 121 miles |
Good breeze. Going about 9. Pretty tame now. Not so much rain. Saw a fine comet tonight. | ||
| Sunday, 13th Lat 14°19’N Long 111°36’W Dist. 84 miles |
Mate let me take the sun, also showed me plans on the slate. Still in the monsoons. Braced sharp calm. | ||
| Monday, 14th Lat 14°46’N Long 111°48’W Dist. 31 miles |
No wind, nor trades, but a blessed lot of friging around with yards, staysails ect. | ||
| Tuesday, 15th Lat 14°44’N Long 112°44’W Dist. 67 miles |
Put on poop netting. Taring. Oiled oilskins. | ||
| Wednesday, 16th Lat 15°39’N Long 114°12’W Dist. 104 miles |
At 4 a.m. it was raining hard. I had to go on deck in Panjams, and did not get a chance to change for 5 hours. Holistoned, sand and canvased. Any amount of lightning tonight. | ||
| Thursday, 17th Lat 15°48’N Long 115°18’W Dist. 65 miles |
Sand and canvased poop. I working with carpenter. Large birds flying about. Curious hailo round moon |
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| Friday, 18th Lat 17°15’N Long 115°18’W Dist. 90 miles |
Terribly hot. Sand and canvased teekwood. Skuse was caught dead on lookout tonight. | ||
| Saturday, 19th Lat 17°26’N Long 115°40’W Dist. 11 miles |
Crew oiling poop deck, and teekwood, I being in mate's room. | ||
| ⚪ | Sunday, 20th Lat 17°36’N Long 116°29’W Dist. 52 miles |
Very hot. Slung hammock on Fo'c'stle head and dossed al1 day. It is so hot that a candle will not stand up and we bend strings to it like this |
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| Monday, 21st Lat 17°55’N Long 117°21’W Dist. 55 miles |
Sand and canvas main deck, I painting netting. Mate gave me a very good shirt today. | ||
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Duncan Linklater © 2025