Week 22: In Good Time
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 45: Proclamation and Celebration ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 43: Kangaroo Island ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 40 - Finally! The harbour is found ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 37: Building a Home ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 36: Family Life ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 35: Pastimes ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 34 - a tempest ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 26: Whose story? ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 25 - The demon drink ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 22: In Good Time ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 20 - infectious disease ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 18 - the port of Rio ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 16: Crossing the Line ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 16 - towards Australia ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 15 - high drama on the John Pirie ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 08: Employment ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 06 : Weathering the Storm ]
[ View the related 'Weekly Post': Week 05: Ship Shape ]
This week we read about some discontent and ill-feelings amongst the passengers onboard the Africaine. Gouger describes his attempts to provide some amusement by bringing together a group of passengers to participate in drill exercises and marches.
‘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 appears that life onboard is governed by tight schedules and routines. This week we’ll take a closer look at how time is organised and measured onboard. What routines and schedules are passengers expected to follow and what role does good time management play in keeping everything smooth sailing?
Cover of Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management,1861.
Inquiry Questions:
