Travel Diaries and Journals

they stopped. I expect that we will soon get sight of land now. Via Madeira. We are not to stop at the Cape if it can be avoided but push right on to Ceylon & there take in a fresh supply of coal We are now put on short allowance of water. One jugful each being the allowance. I do not know why they should do so because they have only to condense the steam produced by boiling Salt water. We have Salt water baths which we can have either hot cold or shower. I have not tried either yet but intend to begin soon. To night some of the young officers got up the rigging. the Sailors were very soon after them & tied them to the rope ladders. Until they paid their footing which was either 5 or 10/- (Summat to drink the genelmans health with) as they called it. There was one very green young fellow of an officer who was nicely caught. he was led into it by the others. They proposed to try a race to the top of the rope ladder & down the other side. This young fellow got off his coat to it The others let him

year. I daresay you have heard me speak of him as the graduate who turned his back upon the principal & knelt down when he was being capped. I told him of this & we had a good hearty laugh at it. he was the first to recognize me I did not know him from the uniform he was in our latitude today is 24.57 N Long 21.21 west 187 mile we passed a good many ships today. Some of them seemed becalmed the breeze has nearly died away altogether but we are always so far independent of it having steam. We can make 180 miles a day with half steam power. We burn 25 tons of coal a day we had 1200 tons at starting so that we have enough to last us to Ceylon with a fair wind Tuesday Augt 25th 1857 We are still sailing slowly. Scarcely a breath of wind. We are trusting to the steam alone I heard this morning of a skirmish that had taken place last night An officer named Named Flanagan was taking some brandy on deck last night which is contray

On the left of Table Mountain is the Devils peak. (For what reason it has received the above euphonian title I know not) looking over the port side of the vessel is the Northern side of the bay & further out of the bay Robben Island. It is now eight months since I left home. Certainly the most eventful period of my past life. First nearly 3 months on the voyage to India, rather more than three months residence in Calcutta after seein Mauritius Palma Santa Cruz Ceylon Madras & now here we are in Table Bay. Certainly the pleasantest place I have seen since I left England and A place I should not have the slightest objection to settle down in. I must begin to write a long letter home today. The mail leaves about the 20th. & is due in England

Standing sometime he had again dropped. while there the capt. came & ordd. an injection (the bowel had been moved in the morning) The injection was made Coop Oat Meal & 2 pints warm water. I made the remark [written above: to the groom] when you wish to clear the bowels thoroughly give a very lge quantity of liquid at least a bucketful. The Capt. replied sharply (do not mind him) alluding to me. I do not want your advice. I replied that I had mentioned yesterday I should give my advice whether ot was received or not. the Capt. replied that if I dared to do so without his permission he would send me to my cabin to which I replied very well I shall go. he then said Leave my Quarterdeck. I said no one can dispute your authority on board your own ship & at once obeyed the order. I sent Joe to request an interview which was refused. This afternoon signalled a large steamer evidently from Ceylon & from her course E supposed

off Ceylon at Sea 6°27 N

Wednesday April 6th. 1859

Up at 5.30. quite calm has been a very close & warm night slept on the bench in the cuddy Payne on the floor & Peterson on the other bench. Mrs. p & Mrs. W on the floor in the after Cabin. had a Couple buckets salt water a [?] & a cup of coffee without milk. Saw a large shark between 6 & 7 under the port Quarter. Could not get a hook to try to catch him. a light breeze came up about 8 ocl fair. 12 ocl. light wind Cont. very warm weather. reading Pickwick abroad. slept after tiffin long chat with Payne in the evg.

Thursday April 7th. 1859.

Up at 1/2 past 5 bath Coffee read Pickwick abroad Mg. not so hot as yesterday slept very cool