| Monday, 23rd | Good trades. All hands painting. Continual rows between the mate and Bosun. | ||
| ⚪ | Tuesday, 24th | Oiled poop. Great rows between Bosun and mates. I am living like a king now, as well as the Old Man at any rate. Mince pies for dinner, dough nuts for tea, and Bill (the nigger cook) and I scuttled the whole tart that was intended for the cabin table. I was in the galley when it was finished, and Bill said he thought it looked too good for aft. So we immediately polished off the lot. They of course could say nothing. The tart hadn't turned out right, that was all. | |
| Wednesday, 25th Lat 4°36’S Long 124°30’W |
70 days out and not yet across the line. This is a disgracefully long passage. The ship looks quite flash now, everything is nicely painted from the truck to the main deck. Our house also looks at its best. As yet, of course, it isn't fitted up. | ||
| Thursday, 26th | Still good trades, but the ship is very dirty and is therefore moving slowly. We haven't touched a rope for the last fortnight. | ||
| Friday, 27th | Painting. Ship looks pretty decent now. | ||
| Saturday, 28th | Painting. We were put out of the sail locker last night for keeping dear Mrs. Scott from sleeping. | ||
| Sunday, 29th | Crossed line. Shaved the “Professor”. Also induced him to shave off his mostache. He looks an awful gu now. Splendid S.E. trades. | ||
| Monday, 30th | The S.E. trades have carried us to 4° 30’N of the line. Severe rows between mate and bosun. The result is we have to holystone all the main deck. Great discontent at present prevailing. | ||
| Tuesday, 31st | Doldrums, but not bad ones. All the time going ahead about a knot. Holystoning. We are taking as long as we can to spite the mate. We are all on the Bosun's side. Every evening spent fitting up our house assisted by the cook. | ||
| FEBRUARY 1899 | |||
| ⚪ | Wednesday, 1st Lat 5°38’N Long 126°40’W |
Doldrums, but not much hauling of yards. As usual in doldrums continual rain squalls, sky overcast. Holystoning. Great conspiracy hatching against the mate. It is not due till Portland. Plenty “farmers” now as the old steward has to take all the lookouts. | |
| Thursday, 2nd | Commencement of N.E. trades. We have been exceedingly lucky in getting the trades so near each other. We expect these trades to carry us now for about 1,600 miles. Fine weather again. Our house looks a treat. Everything looks A.1. Even the mate admits it, so it must be pretty good when he says it. I hate him as much as ever. | ||
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