| Friday, 3rd | Fine strong trades. Rushing ahead well. Caught a splendid boneta, which made two good meals, for all hands. All day large schools of porpoises have been round our bows, as yet we haven't managed to harpoon any. Also a few dolphin, these fish look very pretty in the water and swim very fast. | ||
| ⚪ | Saturday, 4th | Trades very strong. The further North we go the stronger they seem to get. Heavy rain squalls. | |
| Sunday, 5th | Ship lying over very much. Exceedingly strong trades. A little too strong in fact, for it blew the lee side out of the main royal. I had a lively time with it, as it got twisted round the yard arm. Ship running under top gall'sails. Choppy sea getting up. We have had some terrific rows with the mate, and yesterday I told him I was going to stand no more fooling around with him. I never had such a bitter argument with anyone. He said he was willing to loose all his pay to get me in trouble. We invited him on the quarter deck, but he declined. He hasn't a single friend in the vessel. We hate each other like poison. | ||
| Monday, 6th | Wind increasing into a gale. Terrible squalls coming in quick succession. Expected the masts to out of her several times. Cracking on and no mistake. | ||
| Tuesday, 7th | Proper gale, heavy sea running. I and the rest of the watch very nearly were washed away. While out on the boom making the outer jib fast, she diped her bow, fo'c'stle head and boom right under. I was completely buried, and you may be sure clinging onto the stays like grim death. All the watch was the same, also the bosun, who was on the fo'c'stle head, was nearly gone too. Gale carried away Spanker, Main Topmast staysail, Fore upper topsail. Furled Fore Upper Topsail. Alarmingly heavy squalls. Gale still on, it has lasted a long time now. I think it will blow itself out soon now. We pusuaded the mad ass “Professor”, who is the steward at present, to put on a life belt to keep the ship from rolling. He had it on most of the day, untill the Old Man saw him and almost burst laughing at him. | ||
| Wednesday, 8th Lat 16°34’N Long 129°44’W |
Gale moderating. Repairing sails which have been blown to pieces. Also cutting up old spanker, and topsails to be put under the grain. Still heavy sea on. | ||
| Thursday, 9th | Gale abated. Good trades again. Have seen nothing for more than 70 days. All hands still holystoning main deck. | ||
| Friday, 10th | Finished holystoning today, and after we had scrubbed it white they had to cheek to tell us they were going to tar it. Proper spite on the mate's part. Cleaning “Go ashore” clothes with turpentine. | ||
| Saturday, llth | Good trades. Doing not so bad. As usual washing clothes. | ||
| Sunday, 12th | Dull weather. In fact the whole week has been the same. Had a splendid dinner. Good soup, “rootie”, beef and A. 1. Plum duff. A much better dinner than the Xmas one. We have Duff twice a week now. “Muchie Grandie”. | ||
| Monday, 15th | Bending storm sails. Very good day. Pretty cold, but of course bending sails isn't a job you can get cold at. | ||
| Tuesday, 14th | Tried to tar deck but had to knock off on account of ths sprays. Small Honolulu schooner past quite close. First break of the horizon for more than sixty days. | ||
| Wednesday, 16th Lat 29°10’N Long 135°2’W |
Making chafing mats. Still strong trades, with heavy squalls. Rather cold. | ||
| ⚪ | Thursday, 16th | Dull all day, with heavy squalls. Hanging on to top-gallantsails well. Still nothing in sight. | |
| Friday, 17th | Dull curious weather. Still the North east wind continues. We haven't shifted a yard for the last month. | ||
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