DIARY OF REV ROBERT TAYLOR
Gravesend to Lyttelton, 1869

Copyright © New Zealand Yesteryears, 2006
Republication requires the consent of both
Corey Woodward AND Robert Beeston



Sept 24 1869 Dear Father, Mother, Brothers and Sisters,
We are now within a week of land and are all excitement on
board. The ship is being cleaned down ready for going into port.
The sailors are busy stowing the rigging and scraping the deck
and painting the sides and putting on a pretty appearance so that
she will be fit for visitors to come aboard immediate on her
arrival. I have determained, as every body else is busy (my wife in
the bargain) I would be busy too. And the first thing I thought of
was writing a letter to you to be ready for the first mail after we
land. So far on the whole we have had an excellent passage. We
have had a storm or two as we shall tell you by and by but that
we expected so we have not been disappointed. But even the
storms themselves were not what we expected from what we have
heard of sea storms and yet our captain said it was a very severe
one, at any rate there has been nothing to frighten us from taking
another sea passage. There is one thing to be considered, we have
an excellent ship. She is a splendid sailor but rather had we had a
smaller vessel and slower sailing one, we should have felt the
storms very much indeed, on the whole then we are quite
satisfied with the choice of the ship. She is what is called a full
rigged ship of about 2000 tons burden. She has a saloon nearly
twice as long as the girls school rooms at Lowerplace. We have a
compartment for single men, one for single women and a third
for married people. All for third class passaugers. Altogether, we
have about 280 passengers besides a goodly company of the jolly
bars. So that we are almost like a floating village and in fact
much larger than many an agricultural village. The lower part of
the ship is divided into compartments all perfectly water tight so
that if she were to fill with water she would still swim. The
captain is a good-tempered man, kind and on the whole
courteous. He is not one of those ripping men that swears at
everything that takes place, I have only heard him swear once
since I came on board. He is about 31 years of age and has been
a captain 14 years and appears thoroughly to understand his
business. His parents are Wesleyans but he is a man of no
religion at all. Like most seamen he is full of fun and likes a
joke. We have got his likeness and sometime we will get a copy
of it and send it.
I would like to get a photograph of the ship. They were to sell at
1/- each before we set sail but I did not know till after or I would
have bought one and sent it to you. Our officers on the whole are
decent men though none of them are Christian men. We have
many times talked about our friends at home and felt encouraged
by the thought that many of them were praying for us and
perhaps we shall never know in this world how much we are
indebted to their prayers for our safety. I believe thoroughly in the
power of prayer. If ten praying men could have saved the cities of
Sodom and Gomormh how do we know but that the praying men
on board ship and the praying men on shore who are praying for
her welfare may have had great influence on her preservation. The
lord rides upon the stormy waves and calms the roaring sea still.
He holds the water in the hollow of his hand still. He has set and
still keeps the bounds to her ragging billows and says thus far
shalt thou come and no farther. We have nothing to fear on land
or at sea as long as we make the lord our trust. We have had
scarcely any seasickness. I was only one day that I could not take
my food and my wife about two or a little more. I have been
much surprised at that for being a little bilious I expected to be
very bad, I have not been so that I could not go about not even
when at the worst and now that we are got so near port we expect
to have no more. We have passed through the different degress of
hot and cold weather. It has sometimes been so hot we did not
know what to do with ourselves and then it was so cold that we
could scarcely keep warm. It is not so cold now as it was but cold
enough yet. We cannot go and sit down besides the fires on board ship
they are too dangerous and on the whole it is no doubt well that
we do not have them. We are just thinking that now you will be
getting the letters we sent from the tropics, when you write you
must tell us when you got it. We gave you full particulars about
our stay in London and our start from Gravesend and up to the
time of our parting with the pilot. I will now not go over that
again but will begin my journal from that day. A rather serious
accident occurred just before the ship left the dock. A young lady
was going up the ladder on to the ship when she overbalanced
and came down on her head on the stones. She appeared to be
very seriously hurt. I have learned since from the captain that she
was not a passenger which was at first stated but was simply
come to see a friend off. It was feared at the time that her skull
was so severely fractured that she would die but I learned just
before we sailed that she was a little better and likely soon to
recover. She was instantly picked up and put in a cab and taken
away to the infirmary. We did not see much of the parting of
friends but I believe there were some painful scenes witnessed
especially amoungst the Irish immigrants. If the wishing of friends
could secure us a safe passage, I am sure we have nothing to fear.

Jul 5th This has been a very misty day, the ring of the signal
bell and blowing of the trumpet became very monotonous before
night. But of course this is all necessary such a day as this. When
you are out at sea and can only see 20 or 30 yards before you,
you must keep a sharp lookout and do all you can to avoid a
collision. The cannot turn a ship away as soon as a horse and
cart when another is coming against them. So that no precaution is
unnecessary.

Tuesday 6th It is still very misty but not so bad as it was. Several
vessels have been seen today two or three times. The wind is quite
contrary today and we can only get on by tacking. Tacking means
going exactly in that same way a horse goes when going up a
hill with a heavy load. Only the ship is not turned round quite as
easily as a horse. Every time the vessel is so much as that the
whole of the sails have to be altered and it makes it very heavy
work for the sailors. The sea is rather rough and the ship goes
agood on her side, which makes it very difficult to walk. My dear
wife and I have both been sick today but not very bad. We have
kept in our cabin all day and could not take our food.

Wed 7th About 70 of the third class passengers are sick today the
doctor has been telling us. The sea is still very rough, and the
vessel heaves and rocks about a good deal which made us feel
very ill this morning. I thought I was going to be sick and unfit
for breakfast but I took a walk for a short time on deck and the
sickness went and I came down again and was ready for my
breakfast, when the bell rung to announce that breakfast was ready.

My wife is stil very unwell and has not been able to eat all day.
We took our last look at old England today. We came in sight of
Land End this afternoon and gave it a very affectionate farewell.
We have two fierce bull dogs on board belonging to a young Jew
and they got together today and tore each other fearfully. They
had great difficulty in getting them seperated.

Thurs 8th On rising from bed this morning I felt inclined to be
sick and could scarcely stand on my feet. Many was worse than I
and I went to bed again but I went on deck and was soon better
and soon came down and got a hearty breakfast. Mary went on
deck after breakfast and was soon better also. She sat down to
dinner today for the first time in three days. We have sighted Scilly
today. We have passed a small vessel so close as to be able to
speak. The captain shouted as we passed Scilly 25 miles north
east, Hydaspes, bound to Canterbury, report us when you arrive.
The captain of the other vessel replied that he would. I have
finished reading Mr Townends autobiography today.

Fri 9th This morning as soon as breakfast was over Mr Watkins
and I and several of the passengers got in an interesting
conversation on different subject of ecclesiastical interest. Mr
Watkins being a clergyman of the Church of England takes quite
a churchmans view of these subjects. When I went on deck this
morning the captain had just bespoke the vessel "Robert
Henderson" bound for Otago, New Zealand. We have kept in
sight of her all day but we are gradually losing her. You will
wonder I dare say how they manage to speak to vessels at a
distance. You must not imagine that we can speak to all as we
spoke to that one yesterday. It is only a very small boat that can
come so near to us as that. They speak by means of flags. A flag
with certain colours represents such and such words or sentances
and each captain carries a book with him to refer to see what
certain colours mean. That is the way they speak to each other at
sea. As soon as our captain saw this ship he put up a flag which
meant, "What is the name of your ship" Then they replied
"Robert Henderson" Then he asked what port they had come from
and wither bound. Then he asked what day they had sailed. After
they had answered us, then he asked us the same questions. It is
very good indeed to be able thus to speak to one another. I have
been today to have a little conversation with one of the passengers
a Scotchman. I find he has attended a congragational Chapel at
Roxbury. He appears to be very far gone in consumption and is
taking the passage for the benefit of his health. His father in law
and the whole family are going. A very nice family indeed of the
name "Dimbas". We have got a fair wind now but not so much of it.
My dear Mary and I have been very well today.

Sat 10th This finishes our first week at sea; the principal subject
of conversation at breakfast table this morning was how each one
has slept during the night. Very few of us have slept at all, the
vessel has rolled about fearfully and the passengers have had to
pack themselves, the births with carpet bags, hat boxes, anything
to hold to prevent rolling out. How would you like that? We
amused ourselves by calling out to one another "Eh, its
"Waukin"? and then there would be a good burst of laughter. We
went on deck after breakfast and the Cpatain bespoke the
Robert Henderson again saying, "you need be in too great
anxiety about No 4". We could not tell what No 4 meant but it was
evident the other captain thought he was vexed because he was
getting so far behind. Our Captain likes to boast about passing
other vessels but does not like one to pass him.

Sun Jul 11th We no sooner turn out of our cabin this morning but
we discover from the dress and general appearance of the
passengers that this is Sunday. The service was conducted this
morning by Mr Watkins. He preached a good but very short
sermon from Corinthians 6,20. I conducted service in the
afternoon and preached from Acts 9, 11. Both services were well
attended and the behaviour on the whole was good. How solemn a
thing it is to worship God on the wide ocean far away from land.
The singing in the morning was not good. We had the piano and
the people could not hear it and consequently could not follow
which spoiled the singing. In the afternoon, the piano was
dispensed with and the singing was much better. We have a
strange mixture of religious opinions in our congregation. In the
saloon alone out of about 20 passengers we have no less than 7
denominations represented namely, Wesleyans, Free Methodist,
Baptists, Presbyterians, Church of England (both high church and
low), Quakers, Roman Catholics and Jews, besides a few who are
of no religion at all. The majority in the saloon belong to the
Church of England. The Dr and his wife and Quakers have a
thorough dislike of the Church of England service. The two Jews
are brothers and are very wild young men, very fond of gambling
and of dog fighting. One of them belongs to the two bulldogs I
have mentioned. Everybody is wondering for what purpose he is
taking them to New Zealand and some who have been there
before say that they will get shot before they have been there a
month, they seem to be so fond of destroying fowl that they are
almost sure to get into mischief except they are kept tied up.

Mon 12th This is a beautiful morning, we have a fair wind and
we are going on at about 12 or 13 miles an hour. It is very fine to
get in a morning and see our good ship going on at this rate. We
should make a short passage of it if we could do so every day but
that is more than we can expect.

Tues 13th We are now off Lisbon. It has been a wet day and I
have spent most of the day in the saloon and read a very pretty
tale called "Basil the Schoolboy". It gives a description of
schoolboy days but I think it is too highly coloured. We both keep
very well, for which we are thankful.

Wed 14th The wind has ceased and we are now making very slow
progress indeed, in fact we are scarcely moving at all. There is
very little wind and what little there is, is contrary. We have had
some singing and playing down in the saloon tonight. Mr
Roberts our purser can play the piano very well.

Thur 15th It was announced by someone this afternoon that there
was a vessel in sight homeward bound. It was said that it was
short of provision and was coming to us for a supply. What a
bustle there began, in a minute almost every passenger was
instantly engaged in writing letters, but when the letters were
mostly written then it was all declared a hoax. Then there was a
general laugh. But I can assure you that I was deeply mortified.
Just as we were finishing dinner about 6 o'clock a steamer was
crossing our stern and it was announced to be the Indian Mail.
The captain rose immediately and ran on deck and cried as he
was going now for your letters, writing materials were again
brought into requisition, and all were busy in adding a little more
to what had already been written in hopes that we should be
able to send them. But we were doomed to disappointment again
for it was nothing but the captain's joke. We have been becalmed
nearly all day.

Fri 16th We have been becalmed all day again but the breeze is
getting up tonight. We were much disturbed last night by a few
young men who were playing cards and drinking which led to
what it generally leads to, that is quarrelling and kepts us waken
for some time. I was asked by one of the young women yesterday
to go down in their compartment every morning and conduct
morning worship for them. I went this morning for the first time
and read them a chapter out of John Ploughmans talk, a chapter
of scripture and prayed. They appeared to be very much
interested. Many of them are members of Christian Churches; one
was a member of Mr Spergeins? and she appears to be a very
nice young lady, she intends to commence a shop in Christchurch
in the millinery line.

Sun 18th They call the emigrants together every three or four
weeks to call their names over for some purpose or other. I don't
think they have any need to be afraid of any of them leaving
home. They don't go very far except in a downward direction,
and I don't think any of them is desirous to go there. This was
the morning for calling over their names and I could not go and
conduct service for them on that account. Mr Watkins preached a
good sermon this morning from Proverbs 1, 24-27. I went in the
afternoon to the young women's compartment and held a bible
class. I took the 2nd chapter in Exodus for a lesson and said a
little on the providence of God as shown in the chapter. Then I
preached in the evening from James 5-16. Both services were well
attended.

Tues 20th July A little excitement was created today on the deck
by the announcement of a wreck. Something like a ships mast
was seen above the waters what was evidently a part of a wreck.
The man at the wheel said he saw the wreck distinctly. We of
course know nothing any more of it. I have found out a primitive
Methodist local preacher on board amoungst the steerage
passengers. He is from Lisheard in Cornwall where I should have
gone when I left South. He knew Mr Collinge and spkoe very
highly of him. We had a little and very pleasant conversation
together.

Wed 21st A very interesting circumstance took place tonight
which created a good deal of merriment. Three young men all
saloon passengers went up the rigging, when they had got about
half way up about three or four sailors ran up after them and
caught them long before they got to the top, and held them to the
ladder and would not let them go until they promised to pay their
foolings. We are now in the tropics. But it is not so hot yet as we
expected it to be as we get nearer the Equator the captain said he
never knew it so cool before in the tropics. The nights are now
beautiful, we can almost see to read by moonlight. It is so warm
and nice that we are almost tempted to walk about the deck all
night only that would not do for our health. Several of the young
men I believe are sleeping on deck now.

Sat 24th Nothing of interest has occurred for the last day or two.
The wind has changed very suddenly tonight; it is now a head
wind or a contrary one. But better this wind than none at all, it
tempers the rays of the sun and makes it much cooler in this hot
part of the world. A very pretty fish was caught today called the
Bonita by one of the sailors. We had it for dinner and it was
very beautiful. We bespoke the "Stormy Petrol" (Petral?) today,
homeward bound from Rangoon, our captain requested the
other to report us in London and he replied that he would with
pleasure. We had an entertainment on the poop tonight, 4 sailors
and one of the passengers represented the Christys ? minstrels.
They sung very well but I did not enjoy their foolery.

Sun 25th The wind is still foul but we are thankful for it from any
quarter. We have done very little today, we have only gone about
44 miles the last 24 hours. Mr Watkins went through the Church
of England service this morning but did not preach a sermon.
After service all who were inclined went down in the saloon
where Mr Watkins administered the sacrament, I was very glad to
find that about ten were so disposed. It is the first time I attended
communion in the Church of England. I cannot say that I like the
formality of it and I did not like the idea of his going round with
the bread and wine which were left, distributing them amoungst the
communicants for fear any of the consecrated elements should be
used for common purposes, as if to give some sickly person the
consecrated wine would be a desecration of it. We could not have
evening service because of the shortness of the day. It was dark
soon after 6 o'clock and the emigrants have to go down as dusk.
We sang a hymm and I read a Psalm and prayed and then
announced that we should have the service next Sunday in the
afternoon.

Mon 26th We had a little wind this morning but it died away in
the afternoon but toward evening it got up a little again. When we
lived in Rochdale, we did not notice the change of the wind
so much; we were not so dependent on it, but we can do nothing
here without wind. We have had several ships in sight today, two
of which we have bespoke.

Wed 28th We are just rolling about on the water and no more
have nothing but calms. We bespoke the "Okbar" this morning
an American vessel, she asked our name, from what port, and
wither bound. Soon after our captain had answered these
questions, we went down to luncheon and just as we were rising
from the table someone shouted that the Okbar was sending a
messenger to us. We went on deck and found that side of the
deck from which the messenger was coming was crowded with
passengers from one end to the other watching the boat come.
When the messenger arrived they asked for some medicine, their
captain was poorly. Our captain then asked our doctor to go along
with it and see him. He went and saw him and sent him the
required medicine. Letter were now written and dispatched with
the messengers. While all this interest was going on with the
Okbar, one of the sailors caught a dolphin, a very fine fish. I
did not forget this morning that our friends were met at
Sunderland for the transaction of the business of the connexion.
I pray that Gods presence and blessing may rest upon each
member of the annual assembly and bring the assembly to a very
peaceful issue and crown the labours of the coming year with a
larger measure of success.

Thurs July 29 At the breakfast table there was to me a very
painful conversation about a circumstance that took place late last
night. We have a young man on board who is studying for the
ministry of the Church of England and going to New Zealand to
seek ordination for he says he could not get ordained in England.
He has evidently a screw or two loose somewhere in the upper
story and consequently has become the butt of the party. Some of
the passengers delight in tormenting him. And those who take a
delight in this sort of thing have only to pretend to be his friend
and act as if they were serious and they can get almost anything
out of him. He will either discuss with them on religious subjects
always taking the ritualistic side, or tell them all about his
intentions in New Zealand when he is ordain, or sing then a
song which he does with as much emphasis as if he were singing
for a prize, or almost anyting else. THe other night there was a
very heavy tropical shower and several of the passengers stripped
and went on deck to get a bath and he amongst the rest, for he
seems to delight in doing what anybody else does, some of the
young men of the rougher kind threw him down on the deck and
dragged him round, he screaming all the time most fearfully and
calling for the Lord to have mercy upon him and save him. They
then pretended to sympathize with him and begged him to wash
and they would fetch him some soap and water. One fetched him
some water and another a piece of gooses dung and the poor
fellow set too and rubbed himself from head to foot with it,
amidst the applause and laughter of the young men. This
shameful act of course I did not witness. But I must now come to
the scene of last night which as I say was the subject of
conversation at the breakfast table this morning. Yesterday while
we were watching the messenger come to us from the Okbar, Mr S.
the intended minister, was standing on the side of the ship.
Mr Tancred one of the saloon passengers jokingly pulled him
down. This joke which of course I did not approve of, rather
ruffled his temper and now for the first time since he came on
board he retaliated. He doubled up his fist and struck Mr T. Mr T.
then good humourdly patted him on the back, which caused him
to repeat the blow, which was followed up by several more. Then
Mr Watkins, Mr S's guardian stepped in between them and
brought the scuffle toa termination much to the mortification of
the bystanders. The affair was not to end here however. Mr T.
during the day wrote a letter to Mr S. demanding an apology for
the gross insult which had been given him at an early meeting.
Mr S. looked upon this as a challenge to fight and accepted it at
once. This was all a made up joke on the part of Mr T, and the
other young men just to drag the young clergyman out and see
what he would do. Some now took Mr S's side and some the
other. The fight was tobe a dual but Mr T's pistol was to be
loaded with red currant jam. The time was fixed and the
arrangements made, but the cpatin though fond of a joke himself
put a stop to it, no doubt wisely. Mr S is a very nervous man and
the captain was afraid that it might have such an effect on his
nerves that he might never get over it. To pacify Mr S, Mr T sent
an apology. But Mr S who was now quite game would not accept
of it. He would be satisfied with nothing but a fight, "My father
stood shot," said he "and I'll stand it." Of course, no fight took
place. It was all a joke, but a joke of too serious a kind. It has
been the subject of a good deal of amusement ever since. We
have witnessed quite a novel scene tonight. It appears the sailors
get a months pay before the leave dock if they wish it, so
that the first month of the voyage they are working for what they
have already drawn which they call working the dead horse. At
the end of the month, they have quite a jollification about it. They
make the figure of a horse with stuffed canvas. They then fasten
it on a number of planks and drag it round the deck which they
call riding the dead horse. The one on the horses back was
dressed like a jockey. Every now and then he would lash his
horse and tell him to "gee up". They would stop certain places
and let him drink, then one of them would make a short speech
about him. Two or three go behind and lift up his heels, every
now and then to make him kick while all the rest pull at a long
rope in front. All the while as they are going round they sing a
song about him, every verse of which ends with "poor old horse".
When they have thus dragged him round the deck they wind him
up to the end of the foremast mainyard and set fire to him and
then cut him down and let him drop into the sea with three times
three from the jolly "TARS". Soon after this affair, we were all
driven from the deck by a very heavy tropical shower.

Fri 30th We bespoke the "MOHICAN" this morning, homeward
bound and this afternoon we bespoke the "MAORI" a vessel
belonging to the same company as ours (SHAW AND
SAVILLE). Come from Auckland. New Zealand and bound for
London. She left Auckland on the 15th of March, so that she
would have been more than 4 months on her passage already. The
captain of the Maori asked ours when we left the trade winds.
His reason for asking this was that he might have some idea
when he would get them. We sighted several ships but did not
speak to them. We have had several cock battles on board today.
The captain asked Mr Stavely if he would like to see a cock fight
when he said that he would very much, then several cocks were
brought out of the coat and set on. You see we have cock fighting
on board ship as well as on land. The vessel is tossing about a
good deal today and there is a little more sickness. Mr Watkins
has had another taste of it. We have both been very weß.

Sun Aug 1st Sunday has come round once again. This is the fifth
we have spent at sea. Mr Watkins has conducted service again
and preached nom Proverbs 22-2, and I preached in the afternoon
from Luke 15-10, the congregation was very attentive.

Mon 2nd About 4 o'clock this morning and for about 2 or three
hours after we had a race with another vessel. I am told that the
scene was most interesting. We have left her far behind and
tonight she is almost out of sight. We bespoke the
"BROCKHAIN" this morning. They asked how many days we
had been out to which our captain replied that we left on the 3rd
of July. And when we asked the same question she replied 28 and
our captain was at a loss to know whether he meant that they left
on the 28th of June or that they had been 28 days out He thought
he was not telling the truth and when he looked in his papers, he
found that they had left days before us. Our captain is jealous
of his honour and does not like the idea of any other ship sailing
faster than his. We have been fishing for sharks several days, but
have so far been unsuccessful. We have about 4 pounds of pork
at the end of the fishhook but we cannot seem to tempt them with
it. There has been one seen today by some of the passengers. The
captain says the sea abounds in sharks just where we are.

A whale was seen yesterday but at some distance. I would like
very much to have seen it. A few of us commenced today to have
morning prayers down in the saloon. I should like it much better
if Mr Watkins who always does the praying part of it, could only
put away his book and try to walk without his crutches and open
his heart before God, as a child before its father, we sing a hym
then I read a chapter and he reads a prayer.

Thur Aug 5th I have told you that we have 68 female emigrants.
We have had two shameful cases amoungst them today. One of
them has been abusing the matron (a person appointed by the
government to look after the emigrants); the other spat in the face
of the constable. Both have been put in prison. They have made
two narrow cells for them in one of the storerooms. The cells are
only about 2 feet square so that they will not have much room to
stir about. They have only one biscuit and a pint of water a day.
They were found however to be too near together as they could
talk to each other and help each other to sing. One of them has
been taken out and put in a fresh place, where she will not be
able to talk to anyone but herself. It is very painful to see such
cases amoungst young women but when they occur especially on
board ship severe measures have to be taken.

Fri Aug 6th The two unfortunate girls of whom I wrote yesterday
have been released today on expressing their sorrow for what they
had don and promising not to offend them again. You see we
are not allowed to do as we will here.

Sat Aug 7th We CROSSED THE LINE AT 6 O'CLOCK
THIS MORNING, we are now in the Southern Hemisphere.
There has been a great desire on the part of some of the sailors,
urged no doubt by some of the saloon passengers to service an
old custom of shaving and extracting money from all those who
have never crossed the line before. The shaving operation may be
amusing to those who are mere lookers on. The operation is
performed by sailors. The lather is made of treacle which they put
all over their face with a large whitewash brush and which they
scrap off again with a piece of rough iron so that the operation
does not promise to be a very comfortable one. Some of our
passengers gave the captain to understand that they would not
submit to it and he put a stop to it much to the annoyance of
some of the sailors. We did honour the Equator at dinner time by
having equatorial pudding. This was much more acceptable than
the shaving operation would have been. When we turned out of
our cabin this morning the chief stewart told Mr Stavely that we
had crossed the line and asked him if he did not feel the bump, to
which poor Stavely replied very seriously that he thought he did.
This created a great deal of fun.

Sunday Aug 8th Mr Watkins preached this morning from
Matt 25.6. I preached in the evening from Rev 3:20. It was
very hard work to stand and preach, the ship has rolled about
so fearfully.

Monday Aug 9th Today while we sat at dinner a circumstance
occurred which is now getting very common. A very heavy fish
came dashing against the side of the ship which knocked her over
a good deal, glasses, water decanters, plates all came tumbling on
the floor. Legs of mutton, fowls and other things threaten to
follow them and we had to take hold of them to keep them on the
table, just fancy yourselves sitting down to dinner some day and
just as you get nicely seated round the table the house gave a
tremendous roll so that the plates and dishes go flying off the
table on to the floor, and you have to lay hold of something to
keep yourselves from going too. And then ask yourselves, how
would you like it. I can assure you we don't like it but we shall
have to put up with it till we get on land again. This sort of work
always causes a good deal of merriment.

Tuesday Aug 10 We have a strong breeze and a rough sea
this morning, the squals set in about 1 O'Clock at midnight.
One of our saloon boys was standing on deck this morning when
a wave came dashing over the ship and knocked him flat on
his back, but he was no worse only well drenched.

Sunday Aug 15 There has been very little of any interest for a
few days. We had the Christys minstrels again last night, but
I did not go near them. I went to the fore end of the vessel and
spent the time with a Mr Olivera primative Methodist local
preached from Cornwall and our sail maker who is a member
of the church of England and a very good man, with both
of whom I have become very friendly. Mr Watkins preached
this morning from 1 Peter 2.7 and I preached in the after-
noon from Cronicles 28:9. The congragation was not good
at either service. The setting of the sun tonight has been
beautiful beyond all description. You never see such a
sun set in England.

Monday Aug 16th Twice every week we have desert after
dinner, consisting of nuts, almonds, raisins, figs Etc. Some-
times an Almond shell will contain two kernels. When a
gentleman finds one of these he sends it (if so diposed) to
a lady, she takes one and he has the other and the first
that says "Filipeen" the next morning wins a prize. Last
night the captain found one of these and sent it to Mary
my wife, and this morning he came down into the saloon
just before she came out of her cabin, and wnet and stood
at the door of his own cabin till she came out and caught her,
So she lost her Filipeen, She caught the captain a few morn-
ings before this and he gave her a good sized bottle of lavender
water, we gave him one of Mr Townend autobiographies.
After dinner was over to day and while we were still sitting at
table, Mr Irving and the captain got what we call the jackbone
of a goose, taking hold of it one at one side and the other at the
other and pullingtill they borke it and he who got the piece with
the joint on had to bore a hole through the joint, and put it on
his nose and thread it like a needle and every time he misses
counts a year, and he has to remain so many years unmarried.
Mr Irving got the joint and put it on his nose and thread it the
forth time, so that according to this will have to remain single 4
years. You see we have a few little things to amuse us at sea.

To be continued...

[This diary is 81 pages long and will be uploaded in installments]

Transcribed by Corey Woodward


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