Tuesday 27 December 1836

Dec^r 27^th Sunday last was Christmas Day! What a temperature to regale on plum-pudding! nevertheless we did so! In the morning we attended prayers read by M^r Kingston, with a sermon on “The Birth of Christ”, but the congregation did not exceed 30 persons! Yesterday was oppressively hot: in the hut the thermometer stood at 86E – in the tent, under the inner covering 104E & under the outer covering 116E. The fowls & goats appeared exhausted by the heat, the open mouth & out-stretched wings of the first, and the frequent & laborious panting of the second showed their painful sensations. Today there is a fresh breeze from the sea which makes it delightful.