| Wednesday, 25th | (Christmas) I have spent a “joyful” Christmas as sick as a dog in my bunk, Christmas dinner didn't trouble me. It consisted of Dry hash. Hard tack, and Plum Duff with cayenne pepper in it instead of spice. Stormy and now very rough, I thought of you all at home and wished I was at the Priory for the day. | ||
| ⚪ | Thursday, 26th | I am not so bad today but far from journalright and hope it is soon over. The sea seems very high to me, and I suppose it is with not being accustomed to it. We are five points off our course. | |
| Friday, 27th | I feel a little better today. I am getting more accustomed to the motion of the ship and also to the waves. We signalled a homeward bounder today but she took no notice so no word will reach Scotland yet. | ||
| Saturday, 28th | Fine today. Foggy. Wore ship. Not so much wind. I am gradually getting into tbs ways of the ship. We had the pleasant job of soogie-moogie today. | ||
| Sunday, 29th | Thick rainy weather. Saw a great many porpoises today. The mate says this is a sign of good weather. A large number of gulls are still with us. | ||
| Monday, 30th | Hazy, Wore ship. Signalled a homeward bound steamer today and she said she would report us as soon as she arrived. I was very glad when I heard this. We are off our course altogether. I think we are going round in a circle. Had some songs in the dog watch. | ||
| Tuesday, 31st | Fine. Wore ship. Shifted a lot of cargo from for’d aft as the ship was down by the head, I feel all journalright again. Still five points off our course. Sent down gaff today and had lots of excitement over it. | ||
| JANUARY 1896 | |||
| Wednesday, 1st | Very wet, and going about½of a knot. We did not work today but all the same had plenty of sail drill. Calm in the morning, but after the rain a heavy swell came on. | ||
| Thursday, 2nd | Very fine day, also fine night. It being full moon. There was a splendid sun-set. Now going about 7 knots in the journalright direction. We had a grand feast tonight. | ||
| Friday, 3rd | Splendid day, but I cannot notice it much as I have been sick. The result of high living probably. Tonight it is a dead calm. Boat not moving at all. | ||
| Saturday, 4th | A hen committed suicide today by jumping overboard. The second mate tried to rescue her, but she drifted astern and soon disappeared. It is not necessary to say the Captain read a funeral service, I walked the deck for two hours of my watch below tonight for ringing the bell the night before three minutes late. It is a dead calm. | ||
| ⚪ | Sunday, 5th Lat 42°40’N Long 19° 20’W |
Washed down the poop this morning, also worked with the sails all day. A fine breeze has sprung up and we are doing 10 knots. It is as hot as a summer day. Midnight half a gale blowing now carried away our fore royal sheet and clew line. | |
| Monday, 6th | Early this morning wenearly had a collision.A three master crossed our bows and just cleared us by ten yards. I got a terrible fjournalright. Everyone seemed to be shouting. We were going 9 knots at the time. Lots of porpoises about. | ||
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