Arthur David LINKLATER

His ’Journal’

Apprenticed aboard British Princess

10.xii.1895 - 13.iii.1900



		AUGUST 1898
⚪	Monday, 1st	Once more we are alone on the ocean, for all we can see. Painting house and break of poop. Most of the Sunday evenings are spent in Gymnastics, Backspring, etc. and the results of the different attempts were, to say the least of it, anything but pleasant. The Captain has caught sight of my clothes pegs, and has missed some, and he said at table today he was certain I must have stolen his. I feel as if I could ram every one down his throat. I won't be sorry when I have finished with the pair of them. About 10 a.m. we were caught aback, and the wind shifted to S.E. It started to rain and blow, and we were all soaked to the skin, and then we had to make Royals and topgallants fast. It has got very cold too. Starting to ship seas. More preparations for bad weather. Making and putting up netts over the lifeboats to break the force of the seas, and rigging life lines all along main deck. Also making netts for the ports, to save a man from being washed out. Spreading weather cloths round the poop. Had a pleasant wheel from 8 till 10. Blowing, raining and shivering all the time. What a difference from an August at home.
	Wednesday, 3rd	Still a head wind. French barque past us on the other tack, also another vessel. Tacked ship and stood to S'ard. Getting much colder.
	Thursday, 4th	11.30 p.m. Very squally. I have just come down from the topgallant sail, which we have furled. The glass is falling so that means that mainsail will be in at 8 bells. Scores of sea-birds astern, mostly cape pigeons. We are about 9 knots, heading S.E.½ S. Had another long talk with old man again. Subject: how to make a sail fast. We argued the point a little bit, but of course I kept myself within bounds. As usual they discussed us at table tonight again. The Old Man calls Tommy a “snivelling little wretch”. That is a blooming fine thing for a captain to call one of his apprentices. It wouldn't be so bad if he was a six footer, but he is such a mite to call anyone such names. If he wasn't captain, he would have got his head punched in long ago. I would give anything to be able to jump on him for half an hour. Start of the Easterndown.
	Friday, 5th Lat 37°2’45” S Long 12°18’30” W	Noon today we were five miles off Tristan-da-Cunha. At 4 p.m. we were alongside Inexcessible isle, and Tristan is ahead. Also Nightingale isle. There is a settlement on the N.W. side of Tristan, but it is getting dark, and we won't see it. In fine weather boats come off to passing ships to barter and post letters, no direct mail coming here. The islands are shaped a little like this:
⚪	Saturday, 6th Lat 38°30’S Long 11°30’W	8 p.m. last night we were out of sight of the islands, so did not see much of them. It was kind of unfortunate just sighting them at dusk. All day very squally. Under topsails nearly the whole time. All our watch on deck this morning. We were supposed to be making rovings, and instead were playing cards in the Half-deck. The second mate lying on the poop. He bet the passenger at a certain time that instead of working I would be smoking. He won the bet!
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