Travel Diaries and Journals

on bd. ship "Ivanhoe"

up as usual in the Mg. before six taking SW bath on deck. the westerly wind continued until yesterday in Lat° 13. the trades commenced squally & wet yesterday. Several ships have been in sight within the last few days. one close along side yesterday "Scandia" Madras to Mauritius with Coolies. went across our bows. we beat after & she walked ahead again in the evg. Ship rolled very heavily all the night before last. slept now all night. Must have been blowing a gale near. have been going along briskly since yesterday 10. 10 1/2 blowing fresh this mg. 20 took in Stunsails.

Saturday 23rd April 1859.

During the last three days we have been going along briskly upwards

At Sea Lat 18° or 19° S

of 200 miles every day (232) yesterday the SE trades have been blowing very fresh & squally a squall at 4 in the mg. two or three ships saving us (190 miles today) Some three or 4 hundred miles from (Roderique) today read an Indee account of it in a book of the Capts. in the evg. a few french families resident ships occasionaly put in for water. shoals rapidly [Struck through: mile] near land Coral reef dangerous to go onto.

Sunday 24th April 1859

had a bath on deck this mg. about six weather pleasant & Cool now we feel it cold. Peterson got Masonic Marks tatooed on his arm today intended to have something else put on my arm but put off today. nearly calm for about an hour this morning.

On bd. of "Ivanhoe"

Monday April 25th. 1859.

went 100 odd miles today passed Roderique within 100 miles of course could not see it, seen only at 14 leagues distance. breeze pretty light throughour the day weather pleasant & cool Therm. at Midday 75°.

[struck through:Monday] Tuesday April 26th. 1859

Find it difficult to get up early in the mg. now weather getting so pleasant & cool. up at 7 ocl did not get a bath. Stitches in tweed trouses this mg. Thick mist on bd.[?] only [?] every second or 3rd. day 183 miles today.

[struck through: Tuesday] Wednesday April 27th. 1859

Fine breeze until 12 last night continued light since [?] 12 ocl today weather continues fine like a fine English day but

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

on bd. Ship Ivanhoe

topsail yard last evening sent it down this mg. Close reefed it last night getting a new one ready. it is blowing hard. we are under 2 reefed topsail & main trysail

Friday May 13th. 1859.

Wet miserable Cold day Could not sleep for toothache greater part of last night bitter cold. sent a new topsail yard aloft yesterday. Time passes very dully. Smoke Cheroots read or play Ecarte or Catch 10 in the evg. Tiff with Mrs R. & Capt. last evg. Mrs. W[?] rushed from Cabin hair streaming never seen such meaness Mr W. would pay dearly[?] Payne[?] also spoke of badness of feeding[?] went to my Cabin did not interfere A Schooner in sight this mg. making short tacks

Western Side of the Cape

36° odd South & 17. Something West. Tedious Slow work. 2 months from Sandheads today.

Sunday May 22nd. 1859.

Fine day sharp & Cold. fine breeze sprung up at 12 ocl yesterday & continues today. 170 miles to the northward of the Cape today read Exs. [Exodus] & some of Guthries Sermon

Monday May 23rd. 1859.

Fine Cold Sharp day. 145 Miles today. off Oliphant river. in 32° something & 12 something. read account in the Calcutta review of Dr. Leyden. Got from Payne. expect to be in St. Helena in about 10 days.

Tuesday May 24th.1859.==

[Underscored: Queens birth day] Cool & Cloudy. finished at 11 OC today ([underscored: Hooks all in the wrong]) Cabin after nearly three days steady

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 .

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