Clipper Ship 'City of Adelaide'

James Anderson and Caroline Ann McLauchlan with five of their nine children (c1889); Source: Cambelltown City Council

Notes

Extracts from a diary kept by James Anderson McLauchlan (21 years old) between 30/5/1874 and 19/8/1874 on board the City of Adelaide. The diary begins with his departure from Dundee, Scotland aboard the steamer SS Anglia and continues aboard the City of Adelaide. It ends at about the time that the ship reached the proximity of Kangaroo Island. His grand children asked why he had not recorded anything after that date. His answer was simply that he had run out of note paper. These are posted here with the kind permission of Ian McLauchlan, great-grandson of the author.

The first two entries here are written aboard the SS Anglia, and are included here only to show James McLauchlan's feelings at the time of his departure.

Please note: spelling and abbreviations are as written in the diary. Some modifications to the punctuation were made to the context of the diary by the present owners, in order to attain readability, and in a few instances notes have been placed in the text for clarification - where this occurs here, we have placed these inside [square brackets].

Diary Transcript

Saturday May 23 1874

After taking an aft. leave of all my Friends and Relations in Monifieth, Dundee and neighbourhood I stepped aboard the S.S. Anglia one of the Dundee and London Shipping Company's splendid Boats. I shall never forget the feeling that came over me when I first put foot from my native land, I felt that now had come the tug of war and that I was (for I had never been from home before) now fairly launched on the Ocean of life to fight my own battle, but I was determined to persevere and do what I could.

After a waving of hats and Handkerchiefs to friends on the shore we at last got under way and steamed from the Docks * with a good many passengers some of whom like myself were bent on finding a home in a distant land there were I think six different families all for Canterbury NZ. And some eight to ten sailors just newly home from Calcutta in the second cabin of which I was also an inmate. I didn't know much about the first cabin passengers for I saw little of them all the voyage.

Well we passed the Stannergate down by Broughty Ferry where I saw (and answered) some well known handkerchiefs waved by friends who promised to recognise me in passing. In a very short time I could see Monifieth also in the distance. Such a thrill passed through me when I saw it, it being the place that most of all I loved... my birthplace... and in it my old Mother, my brother and a married sister (besides some more friends and relations still lived) therefore it was no wonder I felt my heart beats. I took a last longing look of it knowing that it might possibly be for the last time. However it also soon passed from view and we sailed majestically into the broad German Ocean. We had not long left the Firth of Tay when it came on to blow very fierce accompanied with a heavy swell which made me feel glad to get to my berth.

* about 8 o'clock p.m

Sunday the 24th [May]

When I awoke on Sunday morning I found the ship rolling and pitching at (to us landsmen) an awful rate. I attempted to rise and get on deck but as soon as I got on my feet I felt as sick as a dog. I got myself supplied with (what the Jolly Steward was pleased to call) a "Jelly Pot" but what was in reality a thing in which to empty the contents of our disarranged stomachs and I was not long in making use of it. I felt all the horrors of seasickness the whole of that day, it was so bad that some of the deck-hands were sick also, and some of the sailors from Calcutta were as bad as any of us. The women and children were the worst for the steward was not able to attend to us all. However, towards evening the wind fell a little and also I fell asleep.

[We now join James McLauchlan in London preparing to board the "City of Adelaide" for the long voyage to South Australia. Please note that some of the following entries have been summarised to the main points of the entry to allow as much information to be included on this page as possible.]

... having a look through the good ship "City of Adelaide" which was to be my home for the three months to come, she did indeed look a goodly vessel. She is what is termed a full rigged ship being square rigged fore and aft... her tall rackish masts make her look very graceful, she must be very fleet too for the Boatswain tells me she made a voyage to Australia in seventy five days which was a remarkably quick run...

Thursday 28th [May]

The day on which we ought to have sailed was mostly spent in getting my Baggage down to the West India Docks and in having a look through the good ship "City of Adelaide" which was to be my home for the three months to come, she did indeed look a goodly vessel. She is what is termed a full rigged ship being square rigged fore and aft... her tall rackish masts make her look very graceful, she must be very fleet too for the Boatswain tells me she made a voyage to Australia in seventy five days which was a remarkably quick run.

I had a look through her 'Tween decks the place allotted to us intermediate Passengers. It is divided into three apartments, the Fore Hatch to us single men, the Main Hatch to the Married Folk and their children below twelve years of age (all above that going to the Fore Hatch), and the After Hatch to the single women. They all appeared as roomy as could be expected under the circumstances considering that there is to be about 250 of us stowed in them. The ship does not appear to have been in the Passenger line before for everything had to be fitted up new for us which of course was a great benefit as we got it all clean to go into. I saw a good many of my future mates also down looking through her. We were informed that she was not going to sail until Friday at 10 o'clock so I came back to the Hotel in Whitechapel in which I was residing to spend my last night in Great Britain for a time a least.

Friday 29th

I got up this morning shortly after six had breakfast then went out and caught the Blackwall Buss which landed us almost at the docks. (It is wonderful how cheap you can ride on these Busses,... some of them run a distance of 5 or 6 miles and all they charge is two-pence and they run in all directions throughout the town.... of course the advantage they have got is that suppose you have only a short distance to go the charge is still the same).

Well we reached the docks and got aboard about 9 o'clock and by 10 a.m. we were under weigh for Plymouth where we were to take in the most of our Passengers. We were taken in tow by the Steam Tug "Uncle Sam" and warped slowly out of the docks, it was necessarily a slow process having to work our way through it, taking in late Passengers and sailors at different parts of the Quay. As soon as we got outside the Locks, all hands gave three splendid parting cheers which was answered by the onlookers on shore and then all joining together gave one last tremendous cheer and all was silence.

Soon after we were called down to dinner, which was the signal to commence to our regular routine of duty. We were all divided off into Messes of 9 each with a Captain over each, whose duty it was to get the provisions and give each his portion... but our Mess agreed to take turn about at it. Well we had dinner, which consisted of Broth, Roast Beef and potatoes.. a very fair start. We were only sorry that it was to last for a very limited period (they are obliged to give us fresh provisions always when in the vicinity of any Port.. that is if it is possible to land). After dinner we agreed that two of us should take day about washing dishes... you would laugh to see us awkward fellows with our shirtsleeves up doing the slop work.

Our Mess consists of three Scots miners from the Glasgow district, and English miner from Durham, two fellows from Norfolk (I don't know what their occupation is yet), and a Swede who doesn't know a word of our language (he has got a brother, a sailor, on board but still poor fellow, he is very lonely sitting by himself all day long... I was very glad to see that none of them tried to take advantage of him... everyone seemed to feel for him and tried to assist him as far as possible at meal time). The Englishman before mentioned as my mate and myself make up the rest.

We reached Gravesend about 6 o'clock where it seems we have to wait for some time for our Captain and the Government Inspector. As soon as we cast anchor the bell rang for Tea which consisted of Tea and plain bread and butter. After that was discussed we went upon the Forecastle to watch the homeward bound ships coming in of which there were a good many, most of them cheering as they passed. About 9 we went below to bed. We were supplied with mattresses, blankets and all our bedding, in fact with the exception of sheets which we had to get ourselves.

I was very fortunate in having everything I required in a small chest which I kept for every day use... some of them had everything in their large chests which of course were stowed below and can't get to them for three weeks yet. They had to go about borrowing from the rest of us, which is a thing I hate.

Well we did get to bed as best we could, for myself I was very comfortable. Our beds were all arranged in the order of our messes... that is they ranged along the side in tens, 5 above and 5 below with a table between each and a pretty broad passage up the centre form end to end. It is pretty well ventilated just now but I am afraid when we get our full complement and reach the Tropics we will be short enough of air. The lights were put out about 10 and after a little chaffing among ourselves we fell asleep.

Sunday May 31st

We arose this morning about 7 o'clock, went on deck and found ourselves far down the Channel, we could see Dover with its beautiful chalk cliffs quite distinctly and the French coast on the other side could be seen in the distance. We were making rather slow progress as the wind was dead against us. The scenery though was beautiful and varied... that helped to keep us wearying. As the day wore on we could hear the church bells ringing which put me in mind of home. In my mind's eye I could see all the well-known forms wending their way to our village church... forms which, (oh hard the thought), I may never see again... if such should unhappily be the case, at least they will never be forgotten as long as I live. I was very much disappointed that there was no Service today. I expected in the whole day but nobody seemed inclined to officiate and the day passed much the same as any other day would. However I fancy if we were once fairly at sea there will be a regular service. Towards evening we could see Dungeness the place where the ill-fated "Northfleet" went down. I have no doubt the remembrance of that vessel's sad end was brought keenly back to the minds of many of my fellow passengers. Before we retired some of us read a chapter of the bible and sung a psalm after which we turned in.

Monday June 1st

[summarised entry] The 1st of June broke on us when we were far out in the Channel.... The wind was very light today and the sun very warm, which caused a very disagreeable smell from the Pigs' Stye, which was uncomfortably close to our quarters.... There were some 6 or 8 pigs all huddled in the smallest possible space. The sheep, of which there is some 8 or 10, and some ducks comprised all our live stock..... In the afternoon the Tug left us to our own resources after which our progress was necessarily much slower as we had to beat up against a head wind.....

... has had the effect of keeping all the girls below with the exception of two, who appeared splendid sailors.... hope the fair ones are not sick.... they are so kept under by their Matron... a very hard old lady who appears to think it would be an offence punishable by death, for any of us to speak to them...

Tuesday 2nd [June]

[summarised entry] This morning after breakfast we had a new task imposed upon us in the shape of scrubbing out our apartment...... a good deal of grumbling by some... we were none of us aware that we would have to do it.... supplied with brushes brooms and co. not forgetting the bricklike affair they called a Holystone and which we had to rub back and forward on the planks to take off the superfluous pitch....we got ourselves with a soft fatty substance called soap and 2 or 3 pails of water.... there was one from every mess (each to take turn about) and his duty was to scrub the place occupied by his mess.... scrubbed it all over first with a stiff broom soap and water, then got a long handled scrubbing brush with a piece of India rubber nailed on it to act as a scraper.....scrubbed it well with that brush then applied the scraper ..... scraped it all to one place and dried it with a mop..... far from being white yet but there is a decided improvement..... stiff breeze today but still dead ahead.... has had the effect of keeping all the girls below with the exception of two, who appeared splendid sailors..... hope the fair ones are not sick.... they are so kept under by their Matron... a very hard old lady who appears to think it would be an offence punishable by death, for any of us to speak to them...... passed close to the Isle of Wight in the afternoon...

Wednesday 3rd

[summarised entry] ....very little progress today..... reached a place called Start Point... monotony relieved by the number of Fishing Smacks which we are continually passing....

Thursday 4th

[summarised entry] ...wind had shifted a little during the night....we could see the coast of Devonshire.... lucky enough to get within hail of a Tug.... proved to be the "Volunteer" steam Tug of Plymouth which took us in tow and brought us to the wished-for haven about 6 o'clock.... none of us allowed on shore.... After writing some letters for home to be ready in the morning, I turned in.

Friday 5th

[summarised entry] ...we were surrounded by numerous small boats in which were a number of fruit vendors, grocers and others with their different wares to sell...... they did drive a good trade for an hour or so.... I did not think much of their goods which were of an inferior quality and which they sold at exorbitant prices.... All our chests .. marked "wanted" were brought up on deck to give us an opportunity to of getting anything we required.... I did not need much... but had a look into it to see how it had fared. ....everything was turned upside down. Some pots of jelly my Mother put in suffered very much. ...but by good luck none was broken..... saw them [chests] bundled down into the Hold. The Plymouth passengers' luggage next came on board....was quickly stowed below.... After Tea our future companions came on board from a Steamer, and a very motley crew they seemed by the look... single men came first.... next came the married folk and children....the single women came next.... nearly 150 in all. ... a benevolent gentleman went about distributing tracts... gathered round him and got a good spiritual advice..... After singing a hymn or two he gave an excellent prayer suitable to the occasion then departed... Shortly after 9 the Emigration Agent went ashore.... we all gave him a cheer...some of the started up singing and dancing.. we all turned in about half past ten.....

Saturday 6th

[summarised entry] ....about 10 we were once more under weigh. This time (if all went well) it was to be without another halt until we reached our destination which I pray God we may all reach in safety. ...Tug took us outside the Breakwater and clear of the Coast and then left us. ... Pilot also left us.... I can scarcely tell how I felt as I saw the shores of Old England fade from view. We all watched as long as we could.... Then we felt we were alone on the mighty wast of waters with but our good ship between us and destruction..... This evening two or three began to get sick, one of them.... was very bad.... passed two or three homeward bound ships......

Sunday 7th

[summarised entry] ...ship rolling and pitching.... made me feel that the sooner I was up on deck the better... About 11 o'clock the bell rang for Service which is to be held every Sunday.... I did not go... for I felt that I could not even read a book.... passed two ships.... we were not allowed on the Poop (that being the place allotted to the girls).... covered a distance of 192 miles .... crossing the mouth of the famous Bay of Biscay....

Monday 8th

[summarised entry] .... there was vomiting in all directions... ate a little breakfast... in a very short time I gave it all to the fishes.... not nearly so bad as on the occasion of my coming from Dundee.... most of us have been more or less sick... 262 miles which was considered excellent sailing.... one of the sailors contributed a good deal to our amusement by playing some excellent tunes on a Melodian.....

[a Melodian is a type of Harmonica commonly found among sailors' possessions]

Tuesday 9th

[summarised entry] ...got up quite refreshed....surprised to see a large shoal of porpoises....228 miles....

Wednesday 10th

[summarised entry] ... ship rolling so much that many of us never slept all night... such a continual creaking and rattling of tins... About 6 o'clock she gave an extra lurch... set our Teapot rolling into the middle of the floor...after a great struggle I got into my trousers for I have not got my sea legs yet.... my turn to scrub the floor today.... 200 miles....sailors are all very well pleased with our progress.... I have been stargazing tonight...

Thursday 11th

[summarised entry] ....had quite a novelty for dinner today in the shape of a plum pudding...We get a certain quantity of flour with raisins or suet 3 or 4 times a week to do anything we like with. They cook anything we make....186 miles....unseemly disturbance this evening, some senseless illintended fellows had been annoying the Irish Roman Catholics at their nightly devotions... The Doctor [came down] and put an end to it by giving the miscreants a reprimand....

Friday 12th

[summarised entry] ... expecting to get into the Trade Winds soon...212 miles...preserved meat and preserved potatoes for dinner today, which is a find change from the salt Horse (as the sailors term it) which had almost taken the skin off my mouth. Our baker made us a piece of short bread for Tea....would have been nice but was spoiled in the firing.... some of us had Gymnastics on the rigging....we were delighted with a musical performance comprising a number of well known tunes on the Cornet by the Second Mate, accompanied by the "Shah" on the Concertina.

Saturday 13th

[summarised entry] ...almost a calm, the ship not making above two knots.... 178 miles....

Sunday 14th

[summarised entry] ... very warm and the wind very light.... saw a number of flying fish which is the first I ever saw.....I dressed myself (for most of us make a little distinction of Sunday) and went to the Cabin where I heard the English Church Service read over by Capt. Bowen....only made 94 miles today....

Monday 15th

[summarised entry] ...still see some ships around us... one is "Collingwood", and Australian Clipper, seems determined to fight every inch... has been abreast of us all day.... came within two or three miles of Farro Island one of the Canarie Group....134 miles...weather is very fine still with rather more wind than yesterday...I looked at the Thermometer before I went to bed and found it over 80 deg.

Tuesday 16th

[summarised entry] ...still abreast of the "Collingwood". [fishing for sharks]... 130 miles...[describes a spectacular sunset]

Wednesday 17th

[summarised entry] ...it would grow monotonous were it not for our books, and an occasional wink or smile from one of the Ladies.... 134 miles... had a grand display of fireworks consisting of Blue Lights... and Rockets that mounted beautifully into the air and then exploded...used as signals to our antagonist who was still in his accustomed place abreast of us and were answered by him in the same manner....

...a Birth and a Death both in the same hour... bereaved parents were Irish, the child about 9 months old, was their first born, died about half past one...At 11 the bell tolled for its burial, the body having been sewed up in sailcloth and loaded at the feet was placed upon a board projecting over the ship's side and held by a man at one end in a slanting position. It was then covered over by the Union Jack. The Captain read over the impressive Sea Burial service in the middle of which at a given signal it was consigned to the deep. A feeling of awe spread over us all as we heard the dull plunge...

Thursday 18th

[summarised entry] ...a Birth and a Death both in the same hour... bereaved parents were Irish, the child about 9 months old, was their first born, died about half past one...At 11 the bell tolled for its burial, the body having been sewed up in sailcloth and loaded at the feet was placed upon a board projecting over the ship's side and held by a man at one end in a slanting position. It was then covered over by the Union Jack. The Captain read over the impressive Sea Burial service in the middle of which at a given signal it was consigned to the deep. A feeling of awe spread over us all as we heard the dull plunge.... [burial at] Lat. 21° 58' N. Long. 23° 5'W....140 miles...

Friday 19th

[summarised entry] ...saw a large Blue Shark the first we have seen...182 miles.. have now got into the North East Trade Winds.....

Saturday 20th

[summarised entry] ...I believe four of the young people down with Scarlet Fever, one of them a little girl about 8 years old is very bad....204 miles... our old friend "Collingwood" bore hard upon us and tried to cross our Bow....out-manoeuvred him....he had to go round our stern....he passed within 100 yards.....

Sunday 21st

[summarised entry]... went to church... service was held in the poop which being supplied with an awning was much cooler than the cabin. ...the poor little girl had died between 11 and 12 o'clock. Poor little thing just 2 or 3 days before she told her Mother that she dreamed she was going to die and be cast into the sea. Little did she think it was so soon to be fulfilled. Between 2 and 3 o'clock she was consigned to the deep...about Lat 13° 37' N. Long 27° 58' W. The Mother, it seems, with her two children a boy and the girl was going to meet her husband in Australia... it will be a sad meeting for them... we gradually left the Collingwood behind ... about sunset we lost him altogether... 204 miles ... There was an evening service but I did not feel very inclined to go. I never thought more of our Presbyterian sermons than I do now .. the English Church Service is a poor apology for them.

Monday 22nd

[summarised entry]...everyone amusing himself... some in playing chess, cards or dominoes others in reading some interesting book but the most part.... It is a source of amusement to us to listen to the bells which mark the flight of time. Our ship is supplied with two of them...one on the poop and the other beside us on the Fo'Castle...the one on the poop is rung first by one of the cabin inmates where they keep the correct time, and is immediately responded to by the one for'ard. It was some time before I could tell the time by them but now they are as familiar as a clock. They never ring more than 8 bells...that is 8 distinct tolls or nocks with the tongue to which is attached a short rope for that purpose. 12 o'clock is 8 bells, then it begins again at half past 12 and strikes one adding one for every half hour, 8 bells being rung every four hours. The watch between 4 and 8 every evening differs from the rest. It is called the Dog Watch. They ring 4 bells at 6 then begin at 1 again but ring 8 bells at 8 o'clock: the reason for it is to change the watch so that they will get turn about of night work. The distance is 166 miles.

Tuesday 23rd

[summarised entry]...another performance to go through...one new to me for I have never had it to do before ...in the shape of washing some of my linens....all I could get for a tub was a little pail we washed ourselves in....with a little elbow grease I did manage it and had them tolerably clean... sailors laughed at me for being so long at it....now in what the sailors call the Horse Latitudes... between the Northeast and Southeast Trade Winds.... could see the Southern Cross ... distinctly right ahead... the Pole Star also astern.... excessively warm [down below]...Thermometer stood at 94° ....[asked the Doctor] for a windsail to send a flow of air down....many sleep on deck... I have never done....distance 174 miles...

Wednesday 24th

[summarised entry]...had a glorious bathe in a barrel....[describes rigging up a shower mechanism] ...dead calm... a pretty heavy shower and a pretty stiff breeze... 130 miles...

Thursday 25th

[summarised entry]...have begun to prepare for rough weather.... got up great coils of new ropes to make Halliards and other tackle.....in a week or two they are going to bend an entire new set of sails....evenings getting very long.....always sit on the Fo'castle until bed time.... distance 76 miles...

Friday 26th

[summarised entry]... great outcry arose today against some of the Irish portion....some of them seen to be literally moving with live stock [lice]....how studiously each of us avoid them...I am very glad that in the square in which I sleep...the whole came from London and with one or two exceptions are all Scotsmen....Without prejudice I can safely say that the portion that came on at London were by far more respectable....some of the Irishmen that sleep on deck have never had off their clothes for about a fortnight......distance 136 miles…

...another of our number consigned to the deep, a young Irish girl about 25 years of age.....had been badly since she came on board...

Saturday 27th

[summarised entry]...another of our number consigned to the deep, a young Irish girl about 25 years of age.....had been badly since she came on board....two places right amid ships beside the Cook's galley converted into an hospital [sic]...has already 2 or 3 inmates... I pray God it may soon be empty....110 miles...

Sunday 28th

[summarised entry]... read my bible and thought of home..... have thought little of home since I left.... astonished [at the thought] as I leave in Scotland all that I love and reverence.... 98 miles…

Monday 29th

[summarised entry]... Cook went overboard for a swim.... was severely reprimanded by the Mate.... At half past 7 this evening we reached the Equator..... Father Neptune in the shape of the oldest seaman on board....came up with his Trident in his right hand an his lady on the other (one of the younger seamen with a woman's gown and bonnet...)...went aft under escort and was received on the Poop by the Captain... wished us a safe journey... a Tub with some inflammable material in it was set on fire and cast adrift...... seamen were not allowed the usual ceremonies.... on account of the sickness on board.... 124 miles Lat. 30.

Tuesday June 30th

[summarised entry]...another has been added to our list of dead.... a young child about 9 months old....died about 4 o'clock and was buried about 9.... bereaved parents are Scots from the Glasgow district..... 160 miles

Wednesday July 1st

[summarised entry]... as beautiful a day as I could ever wish to behold.... another of our number is lost to us forever.... a young Irish girl of about 21 years of age.... had been very bad for two or three days... succumbed about 5 o'clock and in about half an hour afterwards she was committed to the deep... awful to think how little ceremony there is... in this case it was quicker than usual... they intended to sink her bed with her, but horrible to say it had not been loaded enough to sink at all.... the body just gave a plunge and rose to the surface again.... 178 miles...

Thursday 2nd

[summarised entry]... the hard biscuit and salt meat was a great change to us, but time works wonders... we get that preserved mead twice a week which is a nice change besides pea soup the one day, and rice the other.... we don't like the preserved potatoes...we sometimes get porridge and molasses.... we also get a loaf for the mess twice a week... [mentions the flour, suet and raisins again] ...can't sit down on the Fo'castle... we don't know if we will walk away with a family or two of that most obnoxious of vermin....146 miles...

Friday 3rd

[summarised entry]... outcry arose today... a young fellow in our mess declaring he had got a sum of 19/6d stolen from him....went to the Captain.... sympathised with him but could do nothing in the case as they had only taken the money and not the purse....it was all a ruse to ... a good many [passengers have] given their money to the Captain to keep for them... 138 miles...

Saturday 4th

[summarised entry]...saw great numbers of Portugese Men of War [jelly fish] .... sudden rain storm.... 104 miles

Sunday 5th

[summarised entry]... some of the beds of them that slept on deck [are] in a miserable plight... no doubt there was also a good many lives lost by being washed overboard [this is following a storm during the night - no lives were lost in the storm at all] ... passed a homeward bound ship about midday... 196 miles...

Monday 6th

[summarised entry]... great disturbance today.... an Irishman who had lost his bed taking one belonging to one of his mates... Such a wrangling, discontented, quarrelsome set of fellows it never was my lot to be amongst before, and please God never again... 232 miles Lat. 17.32 Long. 30.20

Tuesday 7th

[summarised entry]...our Captain says he believes he will make Australia in about 30 days...passed 4 miles to the westward of the Island of Trinidada.... in the evening ... had some singing to help pass away the night.... the performance winding up with what is termed a Dutch Medley... each in his turn singing a verse of any song he remembered then the whole joining in with a Chorus of Rule Britannia which made the old ship ring... 232 miles

Wednesday 8th

[summarised entry]... wind has fallen considerably... we will lose the South east trade winds about the Tropic of Capricorn or 23° south..... which we will probably pass today... distance 126...

Thursday 9th

[summarised entry] ... we are very well off compared to some, with regard to our water... we have a condenser on board.... keeps us always supplied with the very best of fresh water... With a little lime juice (which commodity each of us is supplied with weekly) amongst it, it is very cool and delicious.... passed three ships tow of them going in the same direction as ourselves, the other homeward which was signalled........ had it not been for the fever on board we would have got letters taken home.... the fever on board has every chance of disappearing with the warm weather... only two patients on board, one [with] some chronic disease, the other fever ... mending favourably.... 100 miles

Friday 10th

[summarised entry]... a whale was seen close to the vessel.... distance 66

Saturday 11th

[summarised entry] .... passed another ship.... the "High Flyer"... left London three days before us and is reckoned a very fast sailer.... seems there is not many can compete with our gallant little ship... [the sailors on board the "City"]

how happy they are and how nimbly they go through their work..... secret is they get Saturday afternoon as a half holiday in fine weather... a great blessing to them.. am sorry to say that it has not become general yet [meaning that this was specific to the City of Adelaide] ... 120 miles Lat. 28:5 Long 27:12...

Sunday 12th

[summarised entry]... awakened early by the rolling of the ship.... throwing me first on the one side of my bunk and then on the other.... waves coming broadside on.... At dinner time... pea soup was made to fly about in all directions. Each had to collar his dish and balance it according to the roll of the ship... This evening a most disgraceful fight between a young Englishman and an Irishman.... ended in a hand to hand encounter.... they ran great risk of being put in irons..........206

... a most disagreeable day... wind... hard from the South West... heavy blinding rain... very cold... lasting without intermission until late at night..... we got a fiddle started and had a little dancing... some jigs and hornpipes were creditably done by some of our Irish friends...

Monday 13th

[summarised entry] ... a most disagreeable day... wind... hard from the South West... heavy blinding rain... very cold... lasting without intermission until late at night..... we got a fiddle started and had a little dancing... some jigs and hornpipes were creditably done by some of our Irish friends...we got no reckoning today...

Tuesday 14th

[summarised entry] ... rain had cleared off but the wind was fresh... ship rolling very much... at dinner by not exercising extreme caution, our pea soup took wings and flew from the table to the middle of the floor... distance for two days 308 miles...

Wednesday 15th

[summarised entry]... wind freshened to a regular gale... stitch after stitch was taken off [sails] until there was nothing left but the Lower Main Topsail.... to keep her head to the wind, and here we lay almost as if at anchor (what the sailors term "Hove to").... waves now and again coming right over her like a sheet.... One great wave... struck her amidships and knocked in a part of the bulwarks.... I got drenched... as I was going to the galley for our coffee.... [a woman] got herself severely hurt, another fainted [this while on deck and the ship being pounded by large waves].... 202 miles Lat 38.22 Long 20.4

Thursday 16th

[summarised entry]... wind had fallen considerably.... distance 33 miles Lat. 38.10 Long. 19.25W ... we have lost 12 miles Lat. and gained 33 by Long.

Friday 17th

[summarised entry]....we are getting it cold enough now... glad to put on our overcoats.... about 8 o'clock we were all alarmed by the loud cries of Fire from the deck.... I happened to be down below at the time.... glad to find it was nothing serious... one of the staysails had been in too close proximity to the flue of the condenser.... very little damage done... distance 192..

Saturday 18th

[summarised entry] .... light breeze blowing... Captain could not take his observations... we had some innocent games with which we passed the night very pleasantly...

Sunday 19th

[summarised entry] ...rained without intermission for four and twenty hours... have not see the sun at all today.... no observations yet today...

Monday 20th

[summarised entry] ...a little disturbance arose in consequence of their refusing to cook some of our little extras, which he does without grumbling to the married folks or the young women... we agreed to throw all our fat meat and refuse to the fishes instead of giving it to him... made the bully give in a little.... it is still quite evident that they rob us of all they can to give to those that are continually giving two or three shillings a proceeding, which I hate [seems obvious that the cabin passengers were paying for extra favours from the cook, at the expense of the single men].... I intend giving something at the end of the voyage, but now I am determined to give nothing..... no sun today...

Tuesday 21st

[summarised entry] ... "the iceberg... come up and see the iceberg" [the old sailor who had played Neptune playing tricks on the unsuspecting passengers]... could not have wished to be among a better crew... all so respectable and agreeable among themselves and us.... we all like to talk to them... we can generally depend upon the truth of any statement they make... I began to see evidences of our enemies, that loathsome vermin being spread over the whole of us [lice]...I have now, for the first time in my life, got two or three on my body... very disheartening for there is no way of keeping ourselves clean, for when we put on clean clothes, we just get a fresh family [of lice].... There is nothing for it but to wear the clothes we have and throw them overboard when we land... 522 miles [more than one day's sailing] Lat 42.53 Long. 2.5

Wednesday 22nd

[summarised entry] ... school for the young children was carried on by Mr. Kerslake, the same who was christened "The Shah", has been knocked off now on account of the cold weather... today we had another novelty in the shape of oatmeal cakes or Bannocks.... distance 198 miles

Thursday 23rd

[summarised entry].... they do not seem to study our wants very well, for there are three of our messes without seats, and one without a table having been broken about the time of the gale... nor do they seem in any hurry to mend them... some [furniture items] have been sitting on the deck ever since... was amused at some of my fellow passengers declaring their intentions to travel by land when they came home again... [via the same route that was used] to bring horses to England, that is overland to India and from there home, never supposing for a moment that Australia is an Island thousands of miles from the nearest mainland. Distance 148 miles...

Friday 24th

[summarised entry] ... the Captain declaring that he expected to land in three weeks... weather is now very cold... sometimes got a flying shower of snow or sleet... distance today 266 miles..

Saturday 25th

[summarised entry] ... very thick and foggy accompanied with a drizzling rain... "Scotch Mist"... distance 198 miles

Sunday 26th

[summarised entry] ... awakened this morning about 6 o'clock... "come up and see the Cape Lights"... "for those who have letters to take on shore, get them ready"... this idea was quite absurd... we were about 400 miles south of the Cape... fog very dense in the morning... the Doctor doing his daily rounds congratulated us on good health ( not one of us has been laid up the whole voyage) [referring to the men in his mess area]... In the married place... about 20 are lying badly again... 76 miles ... becalmed since last night... Lat 44.7 Long 18.3 E

Monday 27th

[summarised entry]... awakened by some of the sailors who said there was a comet to be seen away in the east... thinking it a ruse I lay still... on getting up.. found that it had actually been seen....(I remember having seen the large Comet of 1858 [see note after the text])... distance 150 miles...

Tuesday 28th

[summarised entry] .... Comet seen this morning [see note after the text]... threw some of our Tea things over to other messes, who having lost some of their own, have taken ours to make up for it... cold... causes me to take refuge beside the stove in the Fo'castle among the sailors... I spent an hour or two very comfortably....

Wednesday 29th

[summarised entry]... being cloudy the Comet was not seen at all this morning... have now passed the Longitude of the Cape... we had a very severe snow storm which lasted about an hour... about 8 o'clock there was another hail... all the invalids are recovered again with the exception of one or two... I am much afraid we will have to lie for a week or two in quarantine... 492 miles... Lat 43.43 Long. 32.53 E...

Thursday 30th

[summarised entry] ...beautiful day... 246 miles...

...amusing to see the civility we get from the cooks now... they even come and ask if would like a little more soup, or would we like a little hot water, a commodity which if we had asked even for our greasy dishes a week or two ago, we would have got nothing but insult... the secret is we are drawing near the end of our journey and they are expecting us to subscribe two or three pounds to them... afraid they will be woefully mistaken... amongst all the ship, they least deserve it...

Friday 31st

[summarised entry]... foggy all day...amusing to see the civility we get from the cooks now... they even come and ask if would like a little more soup, or would we like a little hot water, a commodity which if we had asked even for our greasy dishes a week or two ago, we would have got nothing but insult... the secret is we are drawing near the end of our journey and they are expecting us to subscribe two or three pounds to them... afraid they will be woefully mistaken... amongst all the ship, they least deserve it...

Saturday August 1st

[summarised entry]... [he comments upon the quick passing of the past two months]... seems like a dream to me, this passing from the extreme heat of summer to the heart of winter.. almost like the sudden changes of the Magic Lantern, the varied scenes of which I used to like so well [he had obviously been exposed to the earliest forms of motion pictures which were called Magic Lanterns]... distance 444 miles

Sunday 2nd

[summarised entry] ...there was service today as usual but I did not attend. I am wearying for the time when I shall once more go quietly to church as I used to do at home, for somehow I can't take with this English church service... 216 miles..

Monday 3rd

[summarised entry] ... rather dull, but was spent reading a novel... in the evening the wind fell away to a very light breeze... distance 190 miles..

Tuesday 4th

[summarised entry] .. another young child was added to our list of dead, and was buried at half past 9...a sweet tempered little creature... a general favourite with all on board.. About midday we came within signalling distance of [a ship which proved to be] "Otago" a full rigged ship of 992 tons and bound for Otago with 450 emigrants on board... all in good health [referring to Otago passengers] ...not a death having occurred among them... sailed on 30th May [Otago].... we came within speaking distance of one another... could distinctly hear one passenger ask if we had got pea soup for dinner... another asked if we had seen the "Shah" [passenger Kerslake] for some time.... a good deal of slang passed between the two... no sun today....

Wednesday 5th

[summarised entry] ... nothing could be seen of "Otago"... this afternoon, the decks being wet and slippery, a poor fellow fell and broke his collar bone.... is the first invalid we have had in our apartment.... [of the sailors] out of their number there has been 6 on the sick list.. there are two lying at the present moment very ill... cooks had the impudence today to suggest that we should raise a subscription for them. I don't know how they could ever expect such a thing after the usage we have got from them... we had a meeting to see what was to be done... it was almost unanimously agreed that the cook should get nothing... we should get up a subscription to give the fellow a little that some time ago said he lost his money... and who in reality appears hard up... and give the remainder to the Baker (who, poor fellow, got his job taken from him some time ago and is to get no wages when he lands.....) distance 390 miles

Thursday 6th

[summarised entry] ... the Bully of a Cook tried to have revenge on the poor Baker, who was the innocent cause of last night's affair [the meeting and decision made no doubt], by striking him, keeping him from getting his breakfast and otherwise annoying him... was prevented from going any further by the timely interference of a third part.... he is awfully riled... poor Baker will have to look out....

Friday 7th

[summarised entry] ...the wife of a young Englishman gave birth to a dead child... the other invalids are either better or recovering fast with the exception of one poor sailor who appears to me to be in a consumption... expecting to reach our destination in less than a fortnight... some can scarcely walk with "chill blains" .... distance 376 miles

Saturday 8th

[summarised entry] ...passed large quantities of sea weed...

Sunday 9th

[summarised entry] ... they are all supplied with charcoal fires down below, with the exception of us single men, who are either not worth one or are supposed to be so hardy as not to require one... Barometer had been falling all day... distance 506 miles

Monday 10th

[summarised entry]... wind blowing through the rigging as if it were a regular hurricane...a loud report as if a gun had been fired.. violent flapping of a sail... a chain that had snapped... they had put two men at the wheel... we passed a piece of rope with what I took to be a part of a sail attached to it, which told that some ship had got a severe handling... heavy showers of hail all day... the hailstones the largest I ever saw, sometimes as large as peas... distance 204 miles ...