Travel Diaries and Journals

At Sea. 200 miles of[f] Natal

seen the last 200 played at Catch the tea with the Captain & Peterson the last 3 nights. today wind light. Moving along about 4 knots expect a slight current.

Wednesday May 11th. 1859.

Rought weather the last 2 or 3 days alternating with calms have mane very little progress winds having been westerly from NW. to SW. Sighted land this Mg. hilly & bleak. supposed to be somewhere southward of Natal. todays observation will shew we had none yesterday it was cloudy all day we were busy yesterday trying to harpoon [struck through: some] two shark one a very large one with white tipped fins took a bait with small hook broke it tryed six hooks lashed together would not take it sprung the

Off E Coast of Africa

of[f] & on shore. land in sight again this mg. have had no obs. for some days.

Saturday May 13th. 1859

Light Air sprung up last evg. from the eastward & has kept up as a nice breeze dead astern today & with the effect of a strong current has made us run 214 a lunar last evg. at 9.30. made us off Cape Morgan & today at 12 we were off Algoa Bay & to the southward 60 or 70 miles reading (Blk Dragoons from Peterson)

Sunday May 15th. 1859

Fair wind Continues 11 oclock blowing stiff dead Astern Bar. falling. every one lively on bd. in the prospect of getting speedily round the Cape & to St. Helena Bay we caught a pigeon this mg. & a Carey last evg. Biscoe Skinned the pigeon today. have

On Bd. Ship "Ivanhoe"

off Cape Colony

as to preserve him with

Thursday May 19th. 1859.

All going on much as usual. on Tuesday the ship was hove too. a strong N.W. gale blowing. We have made little progress during the last three day the N.W. Winds having prevailed We were today at 12 ocl in Lat. [struck through:18] 36.17. Ling. 18.55. being still to the southward of the Cape of Good Hope. (tedious work.) Payne caught several penguins during the gale Peterson & I have taken to bunking in Cabin the weather was so cold & wet

Saturday May 21st. 1859.

Nearly becalmed yesterday & to day Caught a pigeon last night Today very warm Sun quite hot. Current setting us a good deal to the westward we are still in

On bd. "Ivanhoe"

breeze. Pan potty[?] at Payne with Peterson[?]. Smoked Cheroots with Peterson in Cabin in the morn. after a Cup of tea.

Wednesday May 23rd. 1859.

Wind ahead laying NE by E. Fine Cool day a barque in Sight. going same way as ourselves reading (Scottish Cavalier Grant) played Cass[Chess?] with Mr W. last evg.

Sunday May 29th. 1859.

Have has the trades E since Friday & can almost certainly state the day we will get into St. Helena we are about 800 miles off tday & expect to get into Harbour in St. H on Friday on the boats last night with Peterson sent Bruno up among the girls Played draughts Backgammon Ecarte with Peterson & the evg.

South Atlantic.

catch ten with Capt. Peterson & Alice saw another large Shark under the quarter 2 days ago would not take the bait. got fresh water to wash with today. weather still keeping cool.

Wednesday June 1st. 1859

300 miles off St. Helena and going along with a nice breeze 6 knots. expect to be in St. Helena on Friday. weather cool penguins & Careys about often Peterson got fear[?] today. get up at 6 in the mg. smoke cheroot. rolling a good deal wind being astern. reading (Never to[o] later to [?])

Saturday June 4th. 1859.

Fine Clear day & going along with a nice breeze from SE. Yesterday tried to make St. Helena but missed owing to bad Steering .