Travel Diaries and Journals

on bd. Ship Ivanhoe

got to leeward of it tried to beat up for 4 hours. Saw it but made very little progress. day was very dull & Cloudy & blowing fresh with a heavy sea. one sea carried away head sail. intend now going into Ascention for water

Sunday June 5th. 1859.

Lat. 12.20 Long: 10.12. Wind veering NNE fine day. weather keeps cool though nearing the line. expect to make Ascention on Tuesday

Monday June 6th. 1859.

200 miles from Ascention scarcely reach tomorrow. Therm 78° wind light

Tuesday June 7th 1859.

Not yet in sight of Ascention 12 ocl 39 miles off expect to see it this afternoon it is visible in very clear weather at 45 miles today is clear but we cannot yet see it. warm today Therm: 80°

Ascention

Wednesday June 8th. 1859.

Sighted Ascention yesterday afternoon came up within 7 miles about six oclock but did not venture into harbour the Capt. not having been in before did not care to venture. the island from the So.E. presented a series of irregular cones ending in low points at each extr. it appeared perfectly sterile & barren not a blade of grass visible it being volcanic in origin. We went tack & tack of[f] the island all night the rocks had a steep declivity down to the waters edge. this mg. at daylight we went round the island under easy sail. the Capt. Peterson Payne & I watching the different points of land as things opened. we kept about 2 miles off. saw a tent & wooden house at a place where turtle is caught be tween seven & eight I saw the masts

Ascention

of a vessel in the harbour & about 8 let down our Anchor. 3 or 4 merchant vessels. the H.M. "Tortoise" & Sharpshooter Gunboat were in Atr. the 3rd. Lt. & Doctor of the Tortoise came on bd. in the Quarantine boat Capt. Peterson & I went on bd. "Tortoise" after breakfast. Got trocham v [?] from Dr. Mason for Peterson. landing could not be effected at the pier head in the mg. for ship & we intended to try a landing at Comfort Cove but while we were on bd. the Man of War the prevention flags were hauled down & the Man of War's boat shewed us the way in. the surf broke heavily on the rocks. we managed to land but nearly had our boat swamped & stove by the the violence of the surf Capt. Peterson & I went to the Govrs. office with 1st. Lt. Tortoise

Ascention

& thence to the Stores. got some baggages for Cn. went to the house of a Dr. Manies had a glass wine thence to the reading room. saw there Asst. Surgeon & 3rd. Lt. (Devils Ministry out) retd. on bd. to dinner in the afternoon all of us went in the boat landed at Comfort Cove tried to Scramble up hill with Mrs. W but could not manage it. pulled up towards the peir & from thence on bd.

Thursday June 9th 1859.

Last evg. went with the Capt. on bd. two ships in the harbour. the Capt. of one McDowl a brother of McDowl Stationer in Edinr. we met him at Comfort Cove in the afternoon when pulling round the island this Mg. Payne & I went fishing close into the rocks where a number of fish swarmed round

Ascention

the boat. we caught about 2 dozen sick Cod Skip Jack & red fish. two were caught by hand by one of the sailors & Ben caught a very lazy eel which was exchanged to Capt McDowl for two Cod. pulled to the ship about 9. lost the rudder & steered with a dagg[e]er went on shore after breakfast with Mrs. R. Payne Mrs. P. Mrs. W. had a little difficulty in landing. Mrs. R. dropped her purse in the surf & lost it Coy [contained] £5 some shillings. we to the store Capt. Elliot opman's[?] asked us to his house. Walked at 12 ocl to the burial ground, Chapel & turtle pond. very hot but Sun not dealy Mrs. R. caught a parrot. I went down & got a Hip Ascention Sand. great heat off the Sand burnt my hip pitching it into the boat went to