Travel Diaries and Journals

at Sea

Friday March 25th. 1859

up at 10 minutes to 6. Went on deck. plenty of turtle Dolphin Bonito & Sharks about between 8 & 9. Capt. hoisted the jolly boat out to try & get some turtle. Peterson & I went in the boat. the Cf Mate & 4 hands a fine fast pulling liitle boat. got alongside what was supposed to be a turtle. I looked and saw it was a log. Plenty of Bonito Dolphin & Shark. Cf. Mate struck at the shark with the Granes. too deep. Shark bit at them tried once or twice at other fish not successful CF. Mate stk. harpoon in the tendon of this thumb pulled upwards of a mile to the stern of the ship after another large turtle he dived saw another to

on board "Ivanhoe"

port of the vessel pulled up to him dived also. went on board unsuccessful very light breeze today twelve ocl breeze freshened towards evg. 3 Knots Mr. P complaining turned in at 1/2 past 9. Slept in Cabin.

Saturday March 26th. 1859.

Up a little after 5. had a bath on deck. light breeze contg. 2 small vessels in sight on the horizon astern. reading Pickwick) wind fell light bz.[?] in the evening. Youngsters making great row on deck in the evg.

Sunday March 27th. 1859.

Up about 6 slept in Cabin last night. Cool. Peterson getting his arm pricked this mg. fine fresh breeze

At Sea

sprung up abot 10 fell calm in the evg. again.

Monday March 28th. 1859

Up about 6 had a bath. read Pickwick very close hot & muggy this forenoon. expect there may be some dirty weather a boy came to me today with spleen belonged to the Chittagong Naval Brigade. finished Pickwick commenced Pickwick abroad.

Tuesday March 29th. 1859.

Up a little after 5 took a bath on deck a cheroot breakfast at 1/2 past 8. 2 sailors who have died belonging to the Ship effects sold off fetched much above their price by the men learning to play Chess with Peterson. day very hot. played ecarte this forenoon with Peterson & Backgam[mon] with Payne. all played catch

on board "Ivanhoe"

Ivy[?] in the evg. fine breeze sprung up in the afternoon. 4 knots turned in at 1/2 past 9. Cabin very hot wine [wind] on the port quarter

Wednesday March 30/59.

Up a little after 5. had a batch. 3 buckets. a cheroot. (Hypo) reading Pickwick abroad. After Tiffin Catch Ivy played Chess & backgammon with Peterson this forenoon heavy squall in [Struck through: Thursd] the afternoon took us with everything set royal stun sails lay over to it but very stiff job getting youngsters of[f] the poop weather looked very threatening

Thursday March 31st. 1859.

went on deck about 1/2 past 5 had a bath. everything set looking black to windward & ahead. had only time to get sail in when the squall struck us

at Sea

heavily very squally & rainy all day. Mostly all passengers sea sick. Peterson not.

Friday April 1st. 1859.

Slept outside last night in the Cuddy. ship knocked about a good deal all last night hot & uncomfortable felt squeamish all day vomited everything to day although I went to every meal. rain & heavy squalls all day. Kept on deck last night in spite of rain kept in shelter all fool day youngsters playing tricks

Saturday April 2nd. 1859

Still rainy with heavy squalls. had a fresh water bath at / up at 5 this mg. have not been sick to day heavy sea on still. 4 ocl PM rain & squalls still contg. heavy squall just struck [struck through:us] night continued very squally