| Thursday, 8th | Almost dead calm, but the wind there is is aft. We have had twenty two days continuous head wind. That I think is a reckord. Exceedingly warm all day. Working with ‘Bill’ on the Main. | ||
| ⚪ | Friday, 9th | Dead calm. From noon yesterday to noon today we haven't gone ahead more than 100 yards. Very hot. Hardly can be bothered moving at all. | |
| Saturday, 10th | Lovely day. Knocked off at 1.30. As usual Saturday afternoon spent in washing clothes. | ||
| Sunday, 11th | “Farmer” all day, and slung hammock under the gig, spent the day in the sun. Someone reported a ship up astern, but I was too comfortable to move, so I didn't see it. Skuse and I are at present great enemies. | ||
| Monday, 12th | All hands chipping the bulwarks. Another lovely day. Very hot. I am living a bit better now, as the Steward and I are great friends, and he often manages to slip in something from the cabin table. If he was caught even speaking to me, he would get his head taken off. Truly warlike times. It is a curious thing no one is ever content in this ship, and are always ready to leave. Several of the men, also the Bosun, are leaving in Portland. The Bosun is a splendid fellow, and gives us all the sailorizing jobs. He served his apprenticeship in this Firm. In the ‘British Ambassador’. She is now at the bottom of the Pacific. | ||
| Tuesday, 15th | Today and the last three days it has been a dead head wind as usual. Instead of going up North, we are running down South. All hands chipping. | ||
| Wednesday, 14th Lat 38°10’S Long 171°25’W |
Strong wind, but dead ahead. We are heading pretty nearly for Cape Horn and are now further South than either Newcastle or Melbourne. It's blooming disheartening, but still the ship is very good this passage through having such a good friend in the Bosun. It was so cold last night that we were keeping a good look-out for Ice. All hands chipping. Splendid weather. | ||
| Thursday, 15th | Splendid breeze, but we are still three points off our course. Pretty cold at night. We are in the same latitude as we ran the easterdown in. It is light in the mornings at half past three, and not dark till eight. Of course there is no twilight. Chipping. | ||
| ⚪ | Friday, 16th | Today she actually came up to her course, and we immediately set the royals. We are going ahead well. We have had enough head winds to last us a year. About 28 days of them. Splendid weather. We are out a month and haven't seen anything since the tug left us. We are not looking forward to Christmas at all, as there is nothing to look forward to. Chipping. This afternoon the mate threw the steward out of the cabin onto the deck, (The steward is a very small chap) and the Bosun ran to defend him and Skuse and I also ran to take the steward's part. If the mate had hit him he (the mate) would have got killed. It has led to some terrific rows with everyone. The mate hasn't a friend on the ship, except the captain. I, curious to say, had no arguments. The arguers being the Captain, Mate, Bosun, Skuse, Cook, Steward and the men Forid. The Bosun threatened to stab the mate. Tomorrow will be quite an exciting day. | |
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