008_304978009683650587313500655939884099705

3

At about five o'clock two new Firemen were hired at six pounds, very menial
wages. It seems that the Captain had engaged two Chinamen one to assist the cook the
other as Fireman, the former would not work and with the latter the Firemen objected to work hence the
delay. We passed through the heads about 5 oclock and speedily began to feel the
swell. All through Sunday night we had very dirty weather. So dirty that
the passengers disappeared into their cabins and some were soon heard to be engaged in unshipping
cargo. We had a pretty good dinner on Sunday but tea in the evening was not
enjoyable as there was no soft bread nothing but biscuit which I did not like at all and others
have the same objection to it. Sid had no tea but remained in his bunk
till Monday morning when he turned out after breakfast. We had chops steak
and potatoes but no bread. I complained to the Captain of the absence of soft bread he said it was not his
fault and the steward said it was not his as he had sent for bread and none was delivered.
It appears to me therefore that the order was not given sufficiently early to be executed
and that people would not put themselves out of the way to send bread on board on Sunday. If we did not
get a supply at Brisbane or have some baked we shall have a miserable time of it.

During Sunday night the boat knocked about a good deal and the poor horses suffered as they
were exposed to washing of salt water as well as rain and knocking about. They ought to have had
some protection from the weather. We find a great difference between this ship and the former the
latter having been much superior both in cabin accommodation and in the quantity and quality of the
food. She was also a much better sea boat and would never have rolled and pitched

3

At about five o'clock two new Firemen were hired at six pounds, very menial
wages. It seems that the Captain had engaged two Chinamen one to assist the cook the
other as Fireman, the former would not work and with the latter the Firemen objected to work hence the
delay. We passed through the heads about 5 oclock and speedily began to feel the
swell. All through Sunday night we had very dirty weather. So dirty that
the passengers disappeared into their cabins and some were soon heard to be engaged in unshipping
cargo. We had a pretty good dinner on Sunday but tea in the evening was not
enjoyable as there was no soft bread nothing but biscuit which I did not like at all and others
have the same objection to it. Sid had no tea but remained in his bunk
till Monday morning when he turned out after breakfast. We had chops steak
and potatoes but no bread. I complained to the Captain of the absence of soft bread he said it was not his
fault and the steward said it was not his as he had sent for bread and none was delivered.
It appears to me therefore that the order was not given sufficiently early to be executed
and that people would not put themselves out of the way to send bread on board on Sunday. If we did not
get a supply at Brisbane or have some baked we shall have a miserable time of it.

During Sunday night the boat knocked about a good deal and the poor horses suffered as they
were exposed to washing of salt water as well as rain and knocking about. They ought to have had
some protection from the weather. We find a great difference between this ship and the former the
latter having been much superior both in cabin accommodation and in the quantity and quality of the
food. She was also a much better sea boat and would never have rolled and pitched