| JULY 1898 | |||
| Friday, 1st | Alone once again. Painting boats and general frigging around. Old Man sloped us singing outside tonight. I think it is his blooming wife. | ||
| ⚪ | Saturday, 2nd Lat 11°39’N Long 26°8’W |
Just had a nice little row with the second mate about the painting of the planks under the boats. Mate is, as usual, in a terrific rage today. The trades are now finished and we are in the Doldrums. The Old Man has been getting onto the Steward's track for giving us too much meat. It is terribly hot. Have to sleep out in hammocks every night. | |
| Sunday, 3rd | Dead calm all day. As soon as you settle down you have a job. We put the ship round five times today. Had some heavy squalls. Furled Royals and Topgallants. Ship sighted away on Port quarter. The Old Man stoped us singing this evening. I think he is mad! | ||
| Monday, 4th | Terrible heavy rain this morning, and of course got soaked to the skin. The ship is still on the same place on the horizon. We are not moving a bit. It is blooming stale, and makes you hate sailing ships. Last Sunday was one of the hottest days I can remember. Four ships on the horizon. In the evening a stiff breeze sprang up, and we have left them all astern except one, which still holds her own. | ||
| Tuesday, 5th | German steamer ‘Osisis’ passed astern. Saluted! A French barque came up from leeward and past astern onto the other side and is licking us. Raining and squally. Not much wind. | ||
| Wednesday, 6th | Never had such a night. I am sure we hauled in the main braces a good 20 times, and all the time raining as hard as it could. We are all dead tired. Two homeward bounders past us this morning. One British, the other German. Signalled British. Miserable day. No wind, and nothing but rain. I earnestly hope we shan't be here long. Saw nine different ships today. | ||
| Thursday, 7th | Miserable day. Raining as hard as possible, and squally. Past a wooden Barque flying. Filled tanks. Had argument with second mate, which nearly proved the worst for me. Put ship round about half a dozen times. | ||
| Friday, 8th Lat 8°30’N |
My first birthday at sea was spent in Chile. The second in Oakland creek, and the third in the doldrums. 8°30’N. I wonder where the next will be spent. Instead of heading S. by E. we are heading W. We are 30 miles further North today, than yesterday. The wooden Barque is in the same fix as ourselves. I forgot all about it being my birthday till I was wished many happy returns at 12 a.m. | ||
| Saturday, 9th Lat 6°47’N Long 24°15’W |
Tack and tack. Sighted home-ward bounder. Still heading E.S.E. on one tack and W. on the other. Very squally. Miserable weather. Went ‘about’ four times. | ||
| ⚪ | Sunday, 10th | The usual kind of day. Squally. Made Royals and light sails fast. It is more like Cape Horn weather than tropical. I am in a great rage today. I have discovered that the general talk at the cabin table is about the apprentices, what they say and do. Especially me. Mrs. Scott is the worst. She, of course, has no love for me. She had the cheek to say today I came aboard, and thought I should walk the poop with a telescope under my arm. This is because I had an argument about cleaning out the hen-coop. The Captain said that was what I paid 50 guineas for, which I wouldn't have. They have 3 dozen fowls aboard, and when they kill one, instead of puting it on the table so that the officers might have some, they take it into the after cabin, and the others at the same table have salt junk. I hate the sight of them. Especially that female. These things I have found out from the passenger. Caught two small sharks. There was about 10 around us. | |
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