| Tuesday, 7th | We have been racing with two ships and I am glad to say we have licked them to sticks, Skuse and I were lying over the rail watching them going astern when all of a sudden she dipped under a bit and I discovered I was on deck with about two feet of water on journaltop of me. | ||
| ⚪ | Wednesday, 8th Lat [?] 12’N Long 22°8’W |
Had the pleasant job today of tarring the cable. Of course I was covered in tar from head to journalfoot. Today we could see six other ships on the horizon around us. This is not often seen. Grot into the tropics today so changed flannels. No more sleep at night now for the BUGS have now taken command of the half-deck. | |
| Thursday, 9th Lat 31°20’N Long 22°19’W |
Have been unbending “bad weather sails” all day and bending “fine weather canvas”. Very hot. The sea gulls which have followed us all the way since leaving have left us today. | ||
| Friday, 10th | Finished bending sail. Tonight we tried to catch a “Booby” but did not succeed. Splendid weather. | ||
| Saturday, llth | This morning I slept out on deck for the first time. It was just splendid. I now go about the deck (day and night) with only a shirt and pair of dungaree pants. Slept out on deck tonight again, and when I awoke I discovered I was soaked to the skin. It had been raining but I knew nothing about it. Such is life on the deep. | ||
| Sunday, 12th Lat 22°33’N Long 23°47’W |
Tried washing for the first time. Everyone was showing me the way. Signalled another ship today. There is a lot of lightning tonight. Had some very heavy squalls and in them we went about 12 knots. | ||
| Monday, 13th | First day of flying fish. Passed the island of St. Antonio about midnight about 20 miles off. Could see the lights. Had a grand concert. Second Mate had a banjo. Mate a blay-ing pin, Johney and Shields were beating tins, and I had two blaying pins. | ||
| Tuesday, 14th | Sighted a steamer which crossed our bows far ahead. Caught a flying fish. This is the first I have seen. Skuse helped me to out off the wings. | ||
| Wednesday, 15th Lat 15°24’N Long 26°00’W |
Had the flying fish for breakfast. It was very good. Getting life boats in trim in case of accidents. Saw a booby (a large brown bird about the size of a duck). | ||
| Thursday, 16th | Hundreds of flying fish. 12 to 2 today I got my first instruction in steering from the Mate. Exceedingly hot, we are sweating like the dickens. Got up the awnings. Too hot to stand on deck with bare feet. | ||
| ⚪ | Friday, 17th Lat 5°50’N Long 25°4’W |
Tonight about 6 it commenced to rain, I thought some thing had gone wrong up aloft. I put on oilskins, but in less than a minute they were as wet inside as out. The order was fill the tanks, and all the exertions of four of us carrying water which came off the poop could not keep the barrel from running over, We had some fun chucking buckets of water over each other afterwards. All our watch had an outdoor bath. It was grand. | |
| Saturday, 18th | Raining off and on. Soogie-moogying all day. Lots of thunder and lightning tonight which the Mate does not like, Raining tonight, but all the same we dossed outside. Very hot. | ||
| BACK | 3 | NEXT | |
Duncan Linklater © 2025