| NOVEMBER 1898 | |||
| Wednesday, 16th | Sailed from Newcastle. Saluted the different ships as we sailed out. Outside it was a dead head wind. Beautiful day. | ||
| ⚪ | Thursday, 17th | Head wind still. Brown has been taken out of my watch, so I am alone now, which makes it pretty stale having no one to speak to. There are only eight men in the fo'c'stle and one of these has never been at sea before. Only 3 men and two boys in a watch. | |
| Friday, 18th | Wind a little more favourable, but not much. Hauling yards all over the place. The men are getting kind of sober by now. | ||
| Saturday, 19th | Good breeze going about 7 knots. Things at present are running very smoothly. Food this time is very scarce. Bare pound and pint allowance. Very squally this evening. | ||
| Sunday, 20th | Fine day. Good wind. A few sprays coming aboard. The captain has given orders that we are to have no bread now, and instead our half pound of flour is stuck into the sea pie. It's like him! | ||
| Monday, 21st | Dead head wind. Instead of heading N.E. we are heading S. All hands suging paint work. Rotten job! The ship is in a terrible mess with coal dust. It is rather lovely being in the watch by yourself. | ||
| Tuesday, 22nd | Head wind. Bout ship every four hours. Also kind of a gale on. Later: very heavy squall struck us and carried away Main Topmast Staysail sheet. Blowing hard. Under lower topsails and Foresail. | ||
| Wednesday, 23rd Lat 34°1’S Long 165°10’E |
Fair wind this morning, but soon worked round ahead again. Varnishing teekwood on poop. I am getting on with the officers much better this time, and as yet have had no serious rows. | ||
| Thursday, 24th | Fine weather, but as usual head wind. I am afraid if this continues we will make an extremely long passage. Rattling down. | ||
| Friday, 25th | Same winds. Nothing special happening. We are getting much better jobs now. The mates are giving the steward a lively time now. We are let alone. | ||
| Saturday, 26th | Wind shifting all over the place. Washed down and knocked off at 2 p.m. which is rather extraordinary for this ‘hooker’. Fine day. | ||
| Sunday, 27th | Beautiful day, but not much wind. All sail set. A good day of rest. | ||
| ⚪ | Monday, 28th | Working with royal halyards. Good job. The Bosun is trying to learn us as much as he can. Beautiful evening. This is a very quiet passage compared with the last. Can't get any news at all. | |
| Tuesday, 29th | This morning sighted a vessel on the horizon ahead, but in the afternoon she again disappeared. Taking the heavy chains off the topgallant sheets and putting wire up instead. | ||
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