| Monday, 15th | Calm up till noon, but now (4 p.m.) we are flying ahead at 10 knots. Suging the masts which is a pleasant job. Yesterday we were right abreast of the Cape of Good Hope. We have made a run of 9 days from Trisdan-da-Chuna. We were 240 miles South-of the Cape, which is considered very close. | ||
| ⚪ | Tuesday, 16th | We have done a splendid day's run. All night they were hanging on to the topgallantsails “Good oh”. | |
| Wednesday, 17th | All hands suging the main. Rotten job, it being pretty cold. All this passage our watch has had a hand lying up with a poisoned leg. | ||
| Thursday, 18th | Almost dead calm. Wind all over the shop. All sails flapping. | ||
| Friday, 19th | Dead calm. Ship heading all points of the compass. Thousands of Ice-birds flying about. Also a lot of whales and about half a dozen Walrus. They are horrible looking things. Had a blooming “Walking into” by the Old man for walking on the weather side of the poop. | ||
| Saturday, 20th Lat 38°38’S Long 33°54’E |
Coming on very squally. Took staysails, Royals and Topgallants in, and at 12 a.m. (midnight) Foresail. Terrible thunder storm. The lightning is blinding, the roar of the thunder deafening. Going about 9 knots. | ||
| Sunday, 2lst | It is now 3.30 a. m. We came on deck this morning at 12. I couldn't sleep last watch for the thunder, which was terrific. It is impossible for it to be darker and when the flashes of lightning come, you can see right under the Fo'o'stle head from aft. The Old Man is either drunk or mad, perhaps both combined. He has set all sail and it is a terrible night. Blowing, raining and thundering terribly. Going a good 12 knots now. Another man in our patent watch has layen up. That leaves one man in the watch for deck work, when there is one at the wheel and lookout. The Old Man is in a duice of a rage, because we did not heave round on the capstan fast enough, and set all sail to give us something to do. We have been hauling the whole watch. Half the time under water. There is more discontent brewing every day between the officers and men. I have altered my opinion of Britishers a lot now. The Starboard watch consists of 3 men, 3 apprentices, 2 mates and ‘Sails’. A 900 schooner has a better watch. It is now, I am glad to say, eight bells. Our watch below. | ||
| Monday, 22nd | Weather a bit better now. Flying along full speed ahead. Last night the lightning was so strong and vivid that you could turn round on the Fore yard and look aft and see the officers on the poop as plainly as if it was daylight, whereas the night was as dark as pitch. Ran 216 miles today. | ||
| Tuesday, 23rd | Wind right aft. Heeling over splendidly. Did a good run, 222 miles, for the day. An average tramp steamer won't do much more than that. 4,500 off Melbourne. | ||
| Wednesday, 24th | Another good run of 216 miles. High sea getting up, which of course is coining up right behind. | ||
| ⚪ | Thursday, 25th | Noon today, only got the four topsails and foresail on her. Blowing a strong S.W, gale. We, of course, running right before it. The Captain wishes to heave to, but I think he is afraid he swamps her, as the sea is very high. Two hands are at the wheel. The decks have an average of about two feet of water on them all the time. Otherwise it is a lovely day. The sun shining brightly. Our bow is buried in the seas one minute and the next it is pointing up at an angle of about 45°. We have taken in the Fore upper topsail. This is the first time since sailing, which is 75 days. So that is a rather good record. | |
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