Read the full article

Share this page:

Tuesday 26 July 1836

Saturday 23 July 1836

Saturday the 23^rd Harriet is now quite well; for the last two or three days she has enjoyed herself both on the deck and at table; she moreover sleeps well. The complaint she thinks was a bilious attack which might have annoyed her nearly as much if she had been on shore, but she questions if it would not have been shortened if calomel had been more fully administered at the beginning.

Yesterday we entered the torrid zone; the heat however is not at all oppressive to any of the party. The thermometer in my cabin is generally 78^o, but the thorough draft which we manage at almost all times to keep up, renders the temperature agreeable.

Some of the passengers in the intermediate cabin last week manifested discontent, and put up on their hatchway an impertinent notice. Excited by Mr Thomas, the agitator of the ship, one complained of the bread, another of the beef, another of the wine; indeed each had some one complaint to make, but, rather a subject for marvel, no two agreed on the same complaint. On investigation the bread which was declared unfit for use, was the brown bread which I preferred to the best white biscuit provided for the cabin; the salt provisions I had requested Capn Duff to place constantly upon our table and it was partaken of and enjoyed by all our party; the wine was declared by Brown (a good judge) to be excellent, and the same as we drank in the cabin. On my assuring the gentlemen of these facts, the complaint turned on the price paid for their passage and at length it was insinuated that I had chartered the vessel and was making money out of them. My positive denial of having any greater interest in the ship than any passenger on board appeared to satisfy the malcontents, who now said the cook was to blame – he had been insolent, and so on. This the Captain promised to see into, and thus the grievous matter ended. Mr & Mrs Thomas however still preserve dignified silence, though all the rest appear to have forgotten their fancied wrongs.

Seeing that the ill-humour was produced by idleness or ennui it occurred to me that it would be well to get up some general amusement, and I consequently proposed to enrol a body of volunteers to be drilled. Fortunately I found on board a man who had been a soldier in the peninsular war, Mr Wickham, and after a little persuasion he agreed to spend half an hour a day with us for the purpose. On Wednesday last therefore we commenced the platoon exercise; our first party was eight, the next day twelve and at this number our corps appears for the present likely to remain. It is true, sometimes we do not keep very good step in consequence of the motion of the ship, and sometimes a lurch in marching at ordinary time, causes a double quick movement to the rear; but this is all accounted a good joke, and thus the chief end is attained. I am full private in the corps, and four of the intermediate passengers are also enrolled.

Read the full article

Share this page:

Friday 22 July 1836

Friday July 22. Went with my family on board the
Buffalo this afternoon. The Ship in considerable
confusion. Trunks, bales, barrels, packages and litter
of all sorts strewed about in most admired disorder.
Determined however to overlook as much as possible
inconveniences, common it is believed to the commence-
-ment of all voyages by sea! Although those which
surround us here appear rather formidable. Our
cabins by dint of soap and paint have been rendered
somewhat more comfortable than we at first seeing
them expected, not withstanding six feet by 7^1/2
leaves much scope for ingenuity in the art of
stowing away, and affords no more room than
our necessities require.

Read the full article

Share this page:

Tuesday 19 July 1836

July 19^th Today Harriet has been much better. She slept well in the cot, and passed the greater part of the day on deck. In the course of the day we spoke the Mount Stuart Elphinstone on her voyage to Calcutta. In the evening Harriet saw for the first time the phosphorescence of the sea: on the breaking of a wave, or on the water being otherwise agitated, sparkles of great brilliance were abundant. The quantity of light emitted by each is probably equal to that of a glowworm; on a dark night I have seen the ship quite illuminated by this means – the phenomenon was first perceived by us in the Bay of Biscay & I am told that when at the Equator the intensity of the light will be much greater. The cause of this extraordinary appearance is said to be animalculae.

Read the full article

Share this page:

Wednesday 20 July 1836

The Wind cont^d Squally from the S,W, accomp^d
with cold Weather, untill last Night, when it became
moderate, and veer’d round to South, but has been
nearly a Calm, the whole of this Day ________
On Monday we got a place, contrived down below, for
the two poor Ram’s (where the Carpenter, Second Mate,
and T, Waldron, live) as there is not hieght enough, in
the Pen’s for them to stand, without chafeing their Backs
against the top part of it, and during the many Gales
of Wind, that we have lately experienced, they have been
very much bruised, by tumbling about, upon the Deck’s,
On Monday our Cook likewise took very Ill, of Pains, in all
his Limbs, ____ and Yest^dy the chief Mate, also became
very unwell, they are both confined to their Beds, _____
But their is One of our Passenger’s, call’d James Jones, who
has been almost, a constant Customer, to the Medicine Chest,
ever since we left Dartmouth ______________

Read the full article

Share this page:

Wednesday 13 July 1836

July 13^{th .}

… Our cabin party besides Capn & Mrs Duff, consists of ourselves, Mr, Mrs & Miss Brown, the Emigration agent, his wife and sister; Mr & Mrs Hallett, a merchant & purchaser of land who settles in the colony and who is in partnership with Duff; Mr Everard & his wife; and Mr Skipper, the son of a solicitor of Norwich who is articled to Mr Mann, the Attorney General of the colony. The first mate also dines in the cuddy; thus we have the unfortunate number of thirteen!

We fare sumptuously every day – Hot rolls for breakfast manufactured by our excellent black steward, eggs, rice, two sorts of cold meat, coffee, & every tolerable tea. At twelve luncheon: bread & cheese, the last of two kinds, both good, with admirable bottled porter, Hodgson’s pale ale wine & spirits. We dine at four; soup of an excellent quality, two joints, and poultry. As a sample: today we had pea soup, salt fish & eggs, haunch of mutton, fowls and pork – occasionally plum pudding. Then beer, porter, wine and spirits as the French say à la volonté, which is being interpreted, as much as you please. Tea at eight, and the grog bottles from nine to ten. This precision on my part is for the especial consideration of Household [?]. It is true the ducks & geese are sometimes worthy the appellation of matrons, but certainly everything is better than I found it at Ibbotson’s Hotel. Harriet gives the soups unequivocal praise, and while I am writing she is having for luncheon a basin of chicken broth, which calls forth a laudation at every mouthful.

The intermediate party (i.e. between the cabin and the steerage) consists of eighteen persons; one intends to keep an hotel in the colony, Mr Thomas and his family (he is the proprietor of the colonial newspaper), my clerk Mr Nantes, and four proprietors of land in South Australia. They fare differently to the cabin passengers, having fresh meat but once a week, and on other days salt fish, pork or beef.

The labourers and their families occupy the next compartment in the ship. Their number is about 50; they are all contented, and have reason to be so; in this place Mr Pollard & his wife are, with our servants. And now for a word about these. Pollard has volunteered to take charge of the poultry, the pigs & sheep, and my goats. He takes excessive pride in them & boasts of their condition daily; moreover he milks the goats, and performs upon the pigs and sheep when occasion requires the kindly offices of the butcher…

28th. 4 Brazilian soldiers came for 4 of the mutineers. The crew said they would all go and did so, except the carpenter. Kingston gave the Captain a letter which the latter did not open but left on the table when he went on shore. Kingston did not insist on his reading it. The Captain left the ship, when he was gone Kingston told the Mate to [tooltip color=”grey” text=”To start, applied to liquids, is to empty the container.”] start [/tooltip] the water, the Mate said he had no hands, Kingston offered his party. After breakfast Kingston assembled his men and said something to them about working. I inferred from a few expressions that they would not work because the Captain had promised them 3/6 a day and had not paid them. Sent a letter to my father.

The [tooltip color=”grey” text=”An iron tank rather than a wooden cask used for carrying water or storing bread and other dry provisions.”] tank [/tooltip] came alongside and lay there, there being no where to put the water, Kingston said he had done all he could. The Captain came home drunk. Beat Ben – a terrible row midnight.

Read the full article

Share this page:

Wednesday 29 June 1836

There has been a gentle Air of Wind, with occasional Calm’s, since Monday Night, untill this Morng at 7 O’Clock, when it veer’d round in a smart little Breeze, from S,E, which kept increasing all Day, and at 8, P,M, caused a reef to be taken in the Sails _____ Our Sheep consumed the last […]

Read the full article

Share this page:

Friday 1 July 1836

…
On this day, July lst, my son William was taken ill of the scarlet
fever, and my youngest child Helen was so swollen with [tooltip color=”grey” text=”Oedema, referred to during the nineteenth century as ‘dropsy’. An abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in one or more cavities of the body causing swelling of the soft tissues (usually in the lower legs and feet).”] dropsy [/tooltip]
from the effects of the same disorder, which she and Mary both
had just before we left England, as to be confined to her bed
scarcely able to breathe.

On this day our [tooltip color=”grey” text=”To navigate difficult stretches of water, ships took pilots on board. Pilots were coastal navigators with knowledge of their local waters and they captained the ship through the channel or harbour.”] pilot [/tooltip] left us and I sent letters to London,
Gosport, and Chalton near Petersfield, Hants.

We had hitherto walked on any part of the deck we pleased
and the mate said nothing to the contrary, but the day before the
captain arrived on board the following notice was posted at the
head of our stairs: ‘The passengers in the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”Cabins of lesser comfort than those occupied by privileged passengers and intermediate between them and the dormitory accommodation afforded the emigrants.”] intermediate cabins [/tooltip] are
not allowed abaft the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”A machine used to lift heavy loads or to weigh an anchor. The hauling rope passes in turns around the body of the capstan, which is mounted on a vertical axle and rotated by means of horizontal bars affixed to its head.”] capstan [/tooltip].’ This produced an altercation
between Mr Thomas and some others with the mate, who was a
Scotchman and possessed a sufficient share of his national pride,
but as far as his duty was concerned was an excellent seaman. He
said it was usual with all passengers who were not in the state
cabins, and he should insist on the order being obeyed, which they
flatly told him they would not – and to show that it was dis-
regarded we went to any part of the deck, the same as before,
without being interfered with by anyone.

Read the full article

Share this page:

Tuesday 28 June 1836

This 24 hours mostly strong winds from the NW with a heigh sea all resqusite sail set Steering to the Eastward Lattd 37.50 South Longd 69.41 East In the everning read to the little flock 8th chapt by Jerimiah Mr Richards and myself prayed and God seemed to be with us the Lord has once […]

Read the full article

Share this page:

Thursday 30 June 1836

[excerpt of letter from Hare to Angas]

June 30 1836

Brig Emma

Lat. Long.

Dear Sir

You will be glad to hear that
the “Brig Emma” [and?] all that are in it are well at
this date, with every prospect that they will complete
the first and most arduous part of their journey
safely … I thought it well to write you a Letter
as there may be some affairs interesting to you
individually which would perhaps present no point
of Interest to the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”South Australian Company.”] Comp^y [/tooltip] generally …
Perhaps it may interest you to give you a
slight sketch of our [tooltip color=”grey” text=”For most Christians the Sabbath is Sunday, the day they celebrate their religion. For other Christians and for Jewish people the Sabbath is Saturday.”] Sabbaths [/tooltip] at sea –
… The 2^nd Sabbath Capt Nelson read the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”A liturgical prayer consisting of a series of petitions recited by a leader alternating with fixed responses by the congregation.”] litany [/tooltip] &c and
I spoke for some time from the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”See topic of this name listed in the ‘find out more’ section at the bottom of the page.”] parable of the good
Samaritan [/tooltip], there had been a great deal of quarrelling
in the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”The area of between-decks occupied by steerage passengers, that is, those travelling at the cheapest rate.”] steerage [/tooltip] during the week, the Acton men
backing one another against the rest &c
I endeavoured to shape my observations to meet these
circumstances… During the succeeding [tooltip color=”grey” text=”For most Christians the Sabbath is Sunday, the day they celebrate their religion. For other Christians and for Jewish people the Sabbath is Saturday.”] Sabbath [/tooltip]
M^rsCaptain Nelson, thought that the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”A liturgical prayer consisting of a series of petitions recited by a leader alternating with fixed responses by the congregation.”] litany [/tooltip] was
quite enough, and that Captⁿ Nelson & M^r Douglass
had much better perform the service… in this and
man[y] other affairs the direct interference of M^rs CaptⁿNelson has not only been injudicious but I think hurtful
to the general arrangements of the passengers and myself
…

Cape Town July 8 1836

Since writing the above …
…
with sincerest regards to Yourself from Myself and M^rs H

Believe me my dear Sir

yours truly

30th. The [tooltip color=”grey” text=”A flag hoisted ashore to indicate that the vessel has been cleared out at Customs and is legally free to leave port. However, on the day a ship is to sail a ‘Blue Peter’ is hoisted at the head of the foremast. This flag is blue with a central white square.”] custom house flag [/tooltip] was set on the [tooltip color=”grey” text=”The mast nearest the bow on vessels with two or more masts.”] fore mast [/tooltip].

Mr. Kingston, Morphett and Gilbert came on board late last night stating that they had been to the Consul about manning the ship. On Captain Lipson observing that the delay to the expedition was most shameful, Kingston though not addressed, wanted to know if Captain Lipson imputed blame to him. Captain Lipson replied, that if he considered himself responsible for the sailing of the ship, he deserved censure. The conversation ended by Kingston saying he had nothing to do with the delay. Kingston said hastily, ‘don’t bother me,’ and retired to his cabin.

Friday 24 June 1836

Friday. 24th. Still at anchor in Rio. Kingston and Morphett came on board in a [tooltip color=”grey” text=”Sailing ships carried various smaller boats for different purposes. A shore boat was an open row boat for transporting people and goods between the ship and shore.”] shore boat [/tooltip] and went off again; was informed by Morphett that they had hired or intended to have hired a carriage to call on the Ambassador: that they had taken rooms at Johnson’s Hotel.

23rd. Went in a boat with the ladies on a picknic expedition.

Friday 10 June 1836

This 24 hours gentle breeses from the NW all drawing sail set steering SE AM obsd a distance between the and which gives our longitude 13.49 E Lattd Obsd 35.47 South Read in private a chapt in Revers and bowed my knees before a throne of grace before God my saviour in the everning comenced […]

Read the full article

Share this page:

Tuesday 7 June 1836

First part baffling winds from the SWd under short sail the got lighter made all resquite sail PM the wind freshning with rain Latt acc 34.47 S Longd 5.51 East This morning had the painfull task of seperating two of the crew from fighting but no sooner I came away but they went to it […]

Read the full article

Share this page:

Friday 10 June 1836

During last Night, the Wind gradually veer’d round
to the Northward, and having had a fine Breeze, from
that Quarter, all this Day, we consider ourselves now to
be out of the S,E, [tooltip color=”grey” text=”Regular winds which move towards the equator within or near the tropics, the earth’s rotation dragging them such that in the northen hemisphere they blow from the north-eastward and in the southern from the south-eastward.”] Trade Winds[/tooltip] ___________
Mrs Chandler being greatly recover’d, from the effects
of her late attempt of drowning, the Cap^t has given her
Husband strict orders, that whenever She comes upon
Deck, his is to watch her closely, as it is not improbable
That She might make another attempt _________

Read the full article

Share this page:

Monday 6 June 1836

This 24 hours fresh breeses under duble reeft main top sail and single reeft fore top sail with reeft fore sail wind from the NN [sic] steering SE got in the starbo ard quater boat Longd by lunar 3.50 E by chr 2.31 E Lattd 34.4 South In the everning read to a few that […]

Read the full article

Share this page:

Wednesday 8 June 1836

On Wednesday 8th. June we crossed the Equator and the usual absurd ceremony was performed on all the uninitiated except myself – my state of health and giving the Ship’s Company a [tooltip color=”grey” text=”A form of British currency, the gold sovereign has been minted to exacting specifications since 1817. Each sovereign contains exactly 7.3224 grams of gold (22 carats). It was worth nominally one pound.”]sovereign[/tooltip] exempted me –

This 24 hours all sail set wind from the westward steering SEd employd as needfull no observation In the everning read to the people 3d chapt of Revs with a short surmon

Read the full article

Share this page:

← Older posts

Newer posts →