Arthur David LINKLATER

His ’Journal’

Apprenticed aboard British Princess

10.xii.1895 - 13.iii.1900

Tuesday, 22nd
Lat 18°50’N
Long 118°34’W
Dist. 89 miles
Same jobs. Fine day.
Wednesday, 23rd
Lat 19°51’N
Long 120°10’W
Dist. 109 miles
Everything is getting painted. A lot of sprays coming over. Scottie got a model today.
Thursday, 24th
Lat 21°12’N
Long 122°7’W
Dist. 144 miles
Strong breeze. Sighted 4 masted homeward bound barque. Stormy looking tonight.
Friday, 25th
Lat 22°23’N
Long 123°37’W
Dist. 114 miles
5 colours of paint kicking around today. Everything is wet paint, oil, or varnish.
Saturday, 26th
Lat 23°4’N
Long 124°59’W
Dist. 84 miles
Breeze not so strong. Painting. Californian [- ? -] flying about. Birds about the size of a turkey, dark, large beak and long heavy wings.
Sunday, 27th
Lat 23°41’N
Long 125°51’W
Dist. 60 miles
Light breeze. Caught 6 boneto. Had a good feed. They are pretty dry, but all the same they were a change.
Monday, 28th
Lat 24°44’N
Long 126°36’W
Dist. 75 miles
Bent F and M Topgallant, Royal, Upper topsail, staysails, Jibs. Painting mate's room.
Tuesday, 29th
Lat 25°40’N
Long 127°50’W
Dist. 90 miles
Oiling skids, and various other things. Much cooler today. Mate gave me his navigation book, mine being finished.
Wednesday, 30th
Lat 26°54’N
Long 128°57’W
Dist. 79 miles
Painting mate's room. Mr. Ritchie gave me ½ a bottle of Fruit Salts today.
OCTOBER 1896
Thursday, 1st
Lat 28°14’N
Long 128°57’W
Dist. 79 miles
Overhauling after lockers.
Friday, 2nd
Lat 28°54’N
Long 130°23’W
Dist. 58 miles
Killed a pig today. Great excitement and demonstrating on the pigs part.
Saturday, 3rd
Lat 30°44’N
Long 130°28’W
Dist. 118 miles
Took in Royals and topgallants. Outer jib halyards carried away. Blowing hard. Ship lying over a great lot.
Sunday, 4th
Lat 32°28’N
Long 132°43’W
Dist. 132 miles
Cross sea running. Had good peice of fresh pork. It went down well.
Monday, 5th
Lat 34°24’N
Long 134°4’W
Dist.
Set Royals, and Topgallants, Took up 70 fathoms of chane. Most of it ran down again.
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