The Duke of York is now in the Southern Ocean, making good progress. It is Captain Morgan’s wife’s birthday and he reflects endearingly on his love for her and his happiness in the married state.
On board the Africaine Mary Thomas is not so happy, as she struggles to nurse her sick children in the confined intermediate cabin. She remarks that she ‘was five nights without taking [her] cloathes [sic] off.’ Mary is particularly unimpressed with the ship’s doctor, who seems indifferent to her son’s illness, but perhaps this is unfair. Scarlet fever was much feared. Recovery depended more on constant nursing and good luck than medical intervention. The doctor may have judged that he was better avoiding contact with such an infection, lest it spread throughout the ship.
Unhappiness is also apparent on the Cygnet. Although the ship is once again underway, resentment continues to fester between Finniss and Kingston. Finniss is careful to record the mounting catalogue of Kingston’s errors.
Barque Africaine in the Indian Ocean. JM Skipper, 1836.
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