Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
Diary of a voyage to Australia on the ship Cardigan Castle, 28 May - 22 August 1883, with additional comments about life in Sydney
MLMSS 7941
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Mr. J. Tinsley
1 Bk of 39 Freeman Rd
Nechells
Mirmingham
England
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[Inside cover of journal]
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W. H. Tinsley
Surrey Hills
Sydney
New South Wales
Australia
Whoever reads this lot of scribble please excuse my bad writing, for I must own that I have very often got tired of my task but still it may enlighten some one I still remain.
W. H. Tinsley
Dec 24th/12/83
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Monday 28th May 83
Diary of Voyage to Australia
I will now attempt to give a short account of my ride to Plymouth previously to my embarkation for Australia, I left New Station Station at 15 minutes to 9 a.m. we stopped at camp hill, and then rode away to Barnt Green, we then went on again to Bromsgrove through a bit of beautiful country, on we go till we reach Worsester where we had another stop, where I pop out and have a good look-round, the morning is not quite so bright at this place as it was when we left New Street, now we catch a glimpse of Malvern Hills, the next thing we see is Norton barracks
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here the Red Coats are training now a wood where there are some 20 men employed stripping the bark of the trees, the fresh stripped trees and the boughs which have been lopped off from a very pretty picture there being a good few cut down, we now find ourselves at a church, the time is now 10 past 10 a.m. on passing through Cleve and the country round about Cheltenham is rather hilly, and picturesque we now travel on until we reach Gloucester, it is now 20 minutes to 11 a.m. I find this is a very busy place, but at this moment they have pushed us into a rather dark place, and pretty well blocked my progress with writing. We have had our tickets examined here as well
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as at Bromsgrove, this station is a terminus so that we had to be pushed out of here and branch of down another junction, we have now arrived at Mangotsfield, After travelling through some miles of delightful country, it is now 15 minutes to 12 a.m.
We had to look sharp after our luggage here as it had to be transferred from one train to another, as we branch off here in another direction. 15 minutes past 12 a.m. we have now arrived at Bath, our luggage had to change again, we were then lighted up and had some very long tunnels to pass through, we travel on again until we reach Radstock, where we had another stop, proceeding on our journey again in a few minutes, the next place we stop at is Sefton
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Mallet, which place we have to stop for an approaching train, this being the place we have to branch-off on to a single line, we now run on to Evergrech Junction where we have another stop, we are all enjoying the scenery that abounds us on very side as we pass through the country, 20 past 2 p.m.
We find ourselves at Templecombe, where we have to change trains into a South-Western, railway train, we now run to Crewkerene where we have another stop, we now travel through some miles of delightful country to Axminster, where we have another stop for a few minutes, we now find ourselves at Honiton. This is a pretty place, the hills are very high and thickly wooded.
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We now proceed on our journey and at 4 p.m. we have arrived at Exeter where we again stop, we now have a good run to Bow where another stoppage occurs, we again travel to Oakhampton, before we stop again, the country around this place is something lovely it is nothing but hills and valleys, if any-thing it surpasses Matlock for beauty, on we go again to Lidford before reaching this place and after leaving it on one side, is a wild moor which runs for 2 or 3 miles. The scenery at this place and at Bickleigh is something splendid, this place would be a beautiful place for a tourist he could spend a week comfortable enough.
We are now at Marsh Hills, where we have another stop and our tickets examined.
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We now catch a glimpse of the ship masts so we know we must be getting near Plymouth and have arrived at Devenport, the whole of the journey occupying 9 Ύ hours.
The Journey to the Depot
Now the next thing we have to do is get our luggage to the Depot. We put it on to a 4 wheel wagon, and drove off to the Depot. I should think the distance from the railway station to the Depot is about 2 miles, so we had our ride for nothing, and our luggage cost us nothing, on arrival
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At this place we have our names taken, and shown into our dining room. I forgot to tell you we passed over a bridge on our way from the railway station which we had to pay ½ penny to pass over. Our dining room is very nice and clean, we are then provided with tea, which is served up by 2 men of our own party, one comes up into the room with a double breasted tea-pot in his hand a nice little one, the other with the bread and butter. We then appeas our hunger, which however was not very great, after tea we wash our tea things up wipe down the table, and sweep up the floor.
After this we have a stroll round the Depot which place is beside the
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water so we can get a nice fresh breeze. 10 O clock we hear the bell ring the signal for bed time we are then took in the dormitory by Messes of 8s, receive instructions to be sure and make no noise, which rule however was strictly carried out until the old gentleman in charge had left the room, when in bed we experienced some fun, there was a bit of cat howling, and trying to imitate all sorts of wild beasts, but at length they got tired of this game, morning arrived.
Tuesday the 19th 5/83
The bell ringing woke me up, as it means 6 O clock a.m. the time to get up, the gentleman in charge of the Depot
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I find is in our room, who gives us, instructions how to do our bed making, and we shall have to make them up in the same way on our voyage.
Well we got out of our bed room, had a wash and a stroll round the Depot. 8 O clock the bell is ringing for breakfast, we had the same routine as at tea time. After breakfast the Manager comes and gives us notice, to hold ourselves in readiness to see the doctor, we went in before the doctor 8 at a time, in Messes, having passed the doctor the next performance we have to go through is to have our luggage examined. This being done we retire to the dining room to do a little letter writing, when I say dining room
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you must understand its about like Saltey Mess room, for when we once get in this place we have had our last bit of freedom, we cannot get out again, we have to post our letters on the Depot post office. There is a stores here where you can procure anything you need.
Well it is now drawing towards dinner time, yes there goes the bell, I wonder what we shall have for dinner, we have now got a Captain over 7 of us to look after our food 2 of us each day have to go for the food taking it in turns. The Captain of the Mess having to see that the food is properly shared out. Well we have roast beef and mutton which was very good, and boiled potatoes boiled with their jackets on, Irish fashion, but
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still they were excellent, we then cleared away the dinner things and after dinner we obeyed the next call, that was to assist with the single womens luggage, you must understand they expect the men to make themselves generally use-ful. So we did we loaded up all their luggage into a large yacht, which had to convey the luggage to the ship. Being a little busy the time has fled, and it is now tea time.
Well you must know that there was one young woman rejected by the doctor, and worst of all the young woman had not sufficient money to carry her home to Belfast, so Mr Davis, the Manager, come into the Mess room and asked us if we would assist this young woman
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so we did, we made a subscription, which amounted to £1.3.6. I forgot to mention that between breakfast and dinner we had our canvas bags give us, drinking panakins, plate, spoons, and knife and fork and other utensils for use on the voyage.
Well the majority of our companions which proceed with the Cardigan Castle, are of a very respectable class, and very sociable.
There are more English than anything, then come Irish then Scotch and then Manx Men. We have all sorts of fun in this place, a game of cards or anything to while away the time, I dont think I shall tell you about retiring to our bunk to night as it is just the same as last night, with the exception
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of us having to make less noise their being 3 Constables appointed to keep us orderly, that being 1 Constable over each 30 of us, there being 90 of us in the room, we fall off to sleep to night rather quicker than we did last evening.
Wednesday 30 May 1883
We rose this morning at the usual hour, had our breakfast, and then we got our 3 weeks clothes out, it is a very busy sight to see all the people getting their linen out, puts you in mind of the mugging shop down the Vegatable Market on Saturday Night, where they sell second hand clothes.
There is one old lady accompanying us
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who is as old as my Grandmother, her husband with her. The old lady is pretty nimble and enjoys her pipe very much.
After our breakfast we are to receive our ship tickets, after which we have a early dinner because we are going to embark today. Dinner over we have to look our bags up and be in the yard ready for to be taken to the vessel. We have to pass another doctor, and give up our tickets in the office, the last doctor only looked at you and asked you if you was in good health, so I suppose they all said yes, for they all passed.
Well then we had to vary the single girls bags on to the screw steamer Smeaton, which took us out
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To the vessel, after we had done this we went aboard, and was not long before we was in sight of our vessel, which I can tell you was a very fine cutter is the Cardigan Castle, which is a iron built ship full rigged, the Assaye is a similar ship, you would think it was a sister, it is painted just the same, this vessel is only barque rigged hard to say which will get there first, the Assaye sailed 1 day later than us, I will now give you a general description of the Cardigan Castle before I go any-further.
General Description of Ship, Cardigan Castle,
Which was built at Liverpool
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in 1870, she is iron built, full rigged, her registerd tonnage is 1200 tons
Carrying capacity - 1999 tons
Length - 228ft long
Depth - 22ft
Breadth across beam - 36ft
Poop - 44ft long
Forecastle 22ft long
Hold 160ft long
Mizzen Mast 110ft high
Main Mast 130ft high
Fore Mast 130ft High
Boom 20ft long
Bowsprit 60ft long
We had 400 tons of emigrants stores on board, the Doctors Salary, 10s per head.
Number of Emigrants 383
Dolible Crew 42
Ships charted money £4,000
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Besides her emigrants, she carried about 1,400 tons of cargo consisting of engines and machinery and Portland cement. We had when we set sail 6 pigs, 8 sheep, about 100 ducks and about 200 fowl aboard.
We have been and had a look at our future abode for the next few weeks, any-way, which is a very comfortable place. At least you cannot expect such comforts as you would have in a private house. We have our stores give out to us, one loaf between 7 of us for one meal, butter and all such like, we found all we require for use on the voyage in the way of utensils, we have our
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tea aboard, we have water closets aboard and one of the emigrants who looks after them gets £5 for his job, the School Master gets £5, the Constables £3, the lamp cleaner £3, all of these are emigrants.
We occupy the fore part of the ship and have the privilege of the Main deck and forecastle to moach about on. We are detained in Plymouth Sound, waiting for the doctor.
May 31st 1883
All we can do today is to sit on the bulwarks and watch the ships tacking about the sound, the sun is shining beautiful this morning. Indeed we fancy
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ourselves off more for a pleasure voyage than anything else. Our doctor has now arrived, so I suppose we shall soon be seeing about sailing.
The Agent and other influential Gentleman have just left our ship wishing us a pleasant voyage.
June 1st 6M 83
4 O clock a.m. A beautiful morning, the crew are just weighing the anchor, which took 30 men to haul up, meanwhile they were singing the song
Where are you going to my pretty maid
Where are you going to my pretty maid"
And then all join in at the
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End of every line,
fare-the well lads fare-the well,"
And then the end of the next line,
Hurrah my boys were outwards bound"
And it was heartily sang
The tug is just started to tow us out so we shall soon loose sight of old England. It is now 30 minutes past 4 a.m. The tug towed us out as far as Eddystone Lighthouse where she left us. The name of the tug was the Secret-of Plymouth.
It is now 8 a.m. and we are just going to have breakfast. 30 minutes past 9 I am just having my first bit of sea sickness, I fell much better after having fed the fishes. The morning is now
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rather damp with a little mizzling rain. 10.30 a.m. we are now out of sight of land, 11 a.m. we have now sighted land again.
I have had my dinner but I are not very long before I have to loose it again, so at tea time I have made up my mind not to have any tea at all, so I escape sea sickness after tea. 8.30 p.m. I now retire to rest for the first time on the Briny Ocean.
June 2nd 6/83
I rose this morning at 7.30, it is a lovely morning. I have had a little currant cake for my breakfast this morning. The deck are all crowded, it is lovely to be upon deck this
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We can still see the land dimly.
Well I must not forget to tell you we have had a Minister come aboard before we started, and held a very nice service with us, which had I believe its desired effect. The Gentleman not only wished us God speed, but that we should hold these meetings every night. Well these meetings was held every night during the voyage.
We have no need to be frightened of running short of water as we have a piece of machinery aboard that make pure fresh water out of salt water, so you see we shall be all right for water, they call it a condenser.
I have had a very pleasant day of it to day, we
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are now sailing at about 10 knots per hour, I have not been sea sick at all to day.
7 p.m. we passed very close to a barque so we fled our flags, they would know the name of our ship, they at once answered by flying their Ensign, so they would report passing our ship on coming into whatever port they were bound for, it would then appear in the papers.
I forgot to mention that on leaving Plymouth on the 1st of June several of the ships at anchor hoisted the Union Jack, several times, that was wishing us Good-bye.
We held our first Concert aboard, the Doctor taking the chair we had several songs. During the Concert I sang two songs which were, Little Brown Jug,
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and, I have not been home since January. We commenced our Concert at 8 p.m. and brought it to a close at 10 p.m. after spending a pleasant hour.
Sunday June 3rd 1883
4 O clock a.m.
We have a sharp breeze blowing this morning, this being my watch below from 4 a.m. till 7 a.m. which we have to take in turns, we are supposed to assist any-one who might be taken ill, or any thing, the officers on duty come round to us as if we belonged to the crew, they sing out, watch below, then you answer alls well below, and at the same time you show yourself at the bottom
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of the hatchway. The night is divided into three watches which is 8 till 12 first watch, 12 till 4 second watch, and 4 till 7 third watch. 2 of you being one watch at a time, it come round once in 13 nights so you see it does not come very often.
We entered the Bay this morning and are travelling at about 10 knots, the sea at intervals coming over the bulwarks. I told you we entered the Bay, but not what bay, the Bay of Biscay, I have got two good duckings today, I was not sick at all yesterday, but the sea is much rougher this morning, it makes me feel quite squamish. A wave has just come over on to my book as I was writing.
The people on deck this morning put you
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in mind of drunken people, we are now about to think of our Sunday dinner, today we have preserved carrots, which are excellent, and fresh boiled potatoes and tinned mutton, after this we had boiled rice to finish up with.
We have had no service aboard this morning, we held a service amongst ourselves from 2 p.m. till 3.30 p.m. amidship, so that married people could attend the meeting as well as single men. The service now being over, all the young men having sisters aboard, or young ladies can now go and see them only for a quarter of a hour.
Having had our
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tea I feel very sick again. I attempt to make my bunk, but I had to go and wander about on deck awhile before I could shoot the cat, after shooting the cat I went to bunk and slept comfortable.
Monday June 4th 1883
Well I rose this morning at 7/30 a.m. just in time to go and fetch the breakfast, we have got biscuits and coffe for breakfast. After we had washed up, and all that it being my turn, I blacked my boots and washed me, and for the first time on board ship I had a shave with an ordinary razor. And I got over the job proper, I
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just nicked myself in one place, so I are quite a gentleman this morning.
We have a sharp breeze blowing this morning and the sun is shining beautiful, there is a barque in sight this morning, we did not see any ships yesterday.
They are now serving out the salt meat for tomorrow but our mess have decided not to have any of it. The best pieces are nothing but a gob of fat, and we could not touch it as we feel very squamish, so we will have what we can catch for dinner tomorrow. The only thing of relish just now is a red herring, we can purchase them off the steward for 1 ½ each. I dont suppose I should be so
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fast eating them if I was at home.
There is one of the chaps just been shaving his pal and has cut him in three places, his face is all covered with blood, it has very near give me a bad heart for shaving until I get ashore.
We got out of the Bay of Biscay this morning and it was not very rough we got through it nicely. The sailors have found a stow-away today, they have had him on the carpet before the Captain and he is now at work cleaning the pigs out, he has got to look after the pigs and sheep and fowls and ducks, so, they call him Jimmy-Ducks, he is about 20 years of age.
2/30 p.m. We have overtook another barque
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who has hoisted her name by flags, we have also hoisted ours in return. A shark was seen this evening by some of the passengers. I have missed attending our service this evening as I do not feel well.
Tuesday June 5th 1883
10 minutes to 8 a.m. just in time for breakfast. I feel rather better this morning. Last night we had a very rough breeze, it brought the water right down the hatchways and the sailors had to reef all the sails but we are going under ful sail this morning.
10.30 a.m. I have the pleasure of seeing a shark for myself this morning on the
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lee side of the ship. I could plainly see him in the water, the next thing seen in the water is hundreds of porpoises or what English sailors commonly call sea pigs. They kept pace with the ship for about 10 minutes, all the while jumping in and out of the water so that we could plainly see what they was, these fish are about 5 or 6 feet in length, and I are told by the Captain of our ship that their inside is just like a pigs inside so that they derive the name sea pigs from that.
We have a game aboard which is carried on a good deal what they call this game I dont know. But I know this I would rather be a spectator than one of the players the
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first one being the Mug, one of the party behind him, being about 12 or more to play this game, land him one in the earhole. When he has to pick out the one that gave him the blow, if he succeeds in finding the right party he has to be marched round the dozen by the earhole to the front again. If he be unsuccessful in guessing the one that struck the blow, he himself has to be marched round by the earhole and go through the mill again until he has guessed the right one.
Wensday June 6th 83
This is a lovely morning the sun is shining beautiful
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in the heavens.
7 O clock a.m. the first object that meets our eye this morning upon deck is two whales spouting away some distance from our ship.
3 O clock p.m. We are again visited by thousands of sea pigs or porpoises.
I shall be very glad indeed when I have got used to the food on board they give it to us so comical, one day we get salt beef and preserved carrots and rice boiled to finish with, then another day we have potted meat, and bread with pea soup, this I can do with very well.
I cannot drink the tea at all so I have water for my tea the coffe is very tidy and the bread is very middling, butter not over
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grand, I can tell you I either wish myself at home again or else at Australia, we are about like a lot of pigs when we have had our meals we can go to sleep if we choose, its a wretched life to lead is this.
10 O clock p.m. there is a wonderful sight to be seen in the evening that is phosphor essence as the sailors call it, it is like a lot of green fire balls water it is a beautiful sight.
Thursday June 7/83
This morning has opened with rain, but it is very soon all over, and it has turned out a bright a day as ever
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we had since we started, well I tell you the sea is mighty rough this morning, I cannot eat my breakfast, I have just managed to drink my coffe which I have not kept down 5 minutes. The rest part of the day I are obliged to go upon deck directly after my meals and be down or else they would soon be up again.
Friday 8th 6/83
This a beautiful morning the sun is shining brilliant, we are not making much progress today we, we are almost becalmed I dont suppose we are going above 4 knots per hour. The sea is very level today, but we rock tremendous
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It is like walking on the roofs of houses more than anything else.
I have just been to the Doctor who has given me a bottle of medicine just to keep my pecker up you know. I may as well have a bottle of medicine as not all on the cheap while we are aboard. Arnold has had one as well as me.
Well I have had a very quiet day up till the present. Considering I are 21 to day. Nevertheless I must make it out when I arrive in England again, that is if ever God should spare me, which I hope he will for the sake of my friends I have left in old England. The only thing I am enjoying to day is a little music
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which you all know I enjoy as well as any-thing we have 3 violins 1 claronet 2 flutes and 1 harmonion lute, aboard forming a very pretty lot of music, I forgot to mention that we had a Concert last evening, the Captain taking the chair the musical instruments however did not take part in it, but we had some very nice songs off the ladies as well as the gentlemen, the doctor gave 2 songs, the Concert was very well attended. We got up the benches up out of the hatchways, so we passed a very agreeable evening indeed.
Well I have a bit of birthday cake more like pudding, we have no eggs to put in it
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so it was very heavy, neither have we any baking powder so we have to do the best we can.
June 9th 6/83 Saturday
Another beautiful morning well it is Saturday, once more we have not much on of any account to day only a little music.
We are rocking a good deal to day.
Sunday June 10th 6/83
Well we have a very good breakfast, oatmeal porrige, with treacle or sugar, after this we had bread and butter and coffe.
The next thing we have to do is to go on deck and answer to our
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names, commonly called the roll call, this having been done we attend Church of England service, the Captain reading the service.
We are now in sight of the deserters rock, just off the coast of Maderia, Islands.
We have a fine dinner to day potatoes, pickles, preserved onions, potted meat, and pudding.
We are now going to hold a Bible Class for all young men which I attended and enjoyed very much.
We are about to have tea you must know we are living to day, enjoying ourselves, we have a tin of salmon for tea to day, treacle and butter and so on, well we enjoy ourselves very much at tea, and we made short work of a tin of sardines.
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We will now see about going to the service, we have a very nice service.
Monday June 11/6/83
We are again favoured with another fine morning, they are about to form a choir aboard as we have a Choir Master aboard.
Some of our chums have been running up and down the rigging, but presently they are chased all escaping but one who got lashed on the first platform. But he freed himself very quickly, but he was soon made fast again, he escaped again a second time, but they caught him again coming down the
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ladder and lashed him there. He was then in a worse fix than ever, but he would not pay his foot ale to the Sailors. So they kept him up ther one hour and a half until dark, throwing all sorts of thers[?] at him mean-while.
One would sing out can you see land ah-head, and so on he looked very nice I can tell you. The mate ordered them to unlash him at dark, and throw a bucket of water over him.
June 12th 6/83 Tuesday
A fine morning. Nothing of note has occoured to day, except we had a very nice Concert aboard this evening, I sand one song and we passed
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a very pleasant evening.
Wensday June 13th 6/83
A delightful morning again. We are going to have our boxes up to day so we shall be very busy.
I have seen several fish which are called the paper-nautilus, better known by the name Portaguse Men of War. These fish have a sail, which they can use at their own convenience, so they sail with the wind, and they look very pretty sailing along in the sun.
Thursday June 14th 6/83
A fine morning again. I have
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seen several flying fish this morning.
We have to get our beds up to air to day, I are beginning to get used to this life now, the first week was the worst it was awful, we use hard bis-cuits up nicely by soaking them and then making them up into a pudding with suet and rasins into a pudding and that goes down very nice.
Friday June 15/6/83
We are up this morning helping to swill the deck down, with our boots and stockings off getting a appetite for our breakfasts. The cook gave us a extra dose of porrige for making ourselves useful.
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It was not our morning for porrige however I could do with it every morning, its rare good stuff I can tell you, sticks to your ribs well.
We have got a nice meat pie for our dinner to day, made with potted meat, and the fat which we take out of the meat we put in the crust, and so on, up to dick dont you see.
We have entered the tropics to day and at 5 p.m. the barometer stands at 80 degrees in the shade in our sleeping part and 100 degrees in the sun, that being 2 degrees above blood heat.
Saturday June 16th 6/83
A fine morning the sun is
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shining beautiful, we have had a companion ship with us 6 days but she left us altogether last night, we were very close together we could plainly see the people moving about her decks.
The sun to day is 98 degrees in the shade.
Sunday June 17th /6/83
We have another beautiful morning we are all quite busy, cleaning ourselves up ready for church service.
We had a few visitors last night in the shape of a rat or two, they come skipping over us while we were asleep in our bunks.
We are about to muster for the roll call, this morning the Captain has warned the married people against smoking
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in the bunks at night.
We have now the correct number of souls aboard, the number is 424 souls.
We have had lime juice served out to us this morning, we have a quart of lime juice amongst 7 of us for the week, it is very strong and serves well.
Monday June 18th 6/83
A fine morning again. One of the sailors to day met with an accident, he was gathering the sun sheet, and missed his footing, falling down on to the deck stunning him.
After the caution of Sunday morning one would have thought that would have been sufficient but it seems it was
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not for it only ended in a fight this evening.
Tuesday June 19th /6/83
We have another beautiful morning.
After last nights disturbance we have the rules enforced a little more, we have to be washed, our beds made and place swept up and on deck by 7/30 a.m. ready for the Captains and Doctors inspection.
The two men that was fighting last night, have been told this morning what they have to drop into on arrival in Sydney, the Captain declares he will have them brought before the Magistrates, and they will bound to get 6 weeks in gaol each.
12 a.m. we have just sighted
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St Anthony Island one of the Cape-De-verde Island.
Wensday June 20th 6/83
Another beautiful morning.
We have sighted two large steamers to day, one of the sailors caught a beneta weighing about 9 lbs.
We had a jolly little Concert last night which I enjoyed very much.
Thursday June 21st 6/93
We had another fine morning.
We have overtaken a Barque whose name is The Colywn of London, bound for Sydney, we have exchanged signals and have now
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passed her.
There has been a flying fish caught this morning by one of the passengers.
Friday June 22nd 6/83
Another beautiful morning, we have seen plenty of porpoises, one of the passengers caught a beneta today.
Saturday June 23rd /6/83
This morning is rather dull with mizzling rain, we have seen the largest lot of porpoises this morning we have seen since we have been out at sea.
We have sudden notice to get letters ready, as there is a brigantine in sight which will probably pick up
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up letters, the crew are getting the boat ready for lowering. I have just time to scribble a few lines in blacklead on two sheets of paper, and post them in the bag, as they have to be put in a canvas bag and sewn up, that is posting letters on the Ocean.
The brig is very near that is going to pick them up, she has hoisted her signals and she is getting very near. Her name is the Helena, bound for Lisbon in Spain, she is laden with coffe from Brazil.
The boat is now off toward her with the letters, the First Mate, Doctor and 2 apprentices have gone with her and 4 able sea-men, they have taken two bags of potatoes to pay her for her
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trouble, they have now got alongside of her, the Doctor and Mate has now got aboard her, they stopped aboard about 20 minutes, just cracked a bottle of piss and smoked a cigar. The sailors and the apprentices did not go aboard but had a glass of grog each.
Well they are now on their way back, they are now on top of a wave now lost sight in a hollow, on coming alongside our ship again there was a general cheer so they have settled that bit of business.
Sunday June 24th /6/83
It is rather damp this morning we have a slight downpour of rain, I have just been sea
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sick again, and thrown away my breakfast, but I hope I shall keep my dinner down. We have just had potatoes, preserved onions, rice, and treacle tart for our dinners.
One of our passengers had a slight attack of sun stroke to day.
Monday June 25/6/83
We have a sort of April shower this morning, which has continued throughout the day more or less.
3 oclock p.m. an accident has happened. A block has fallen from out of the rigging, striking one of the sailors on the head making a wound about 1½ long, which had to be
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sewn up, striking another on his hand taking all the use out of it, it struck another on the back injuring his back.
Tuesday June 26th /6/83
A clear beautiful morning the sun is shining beautiful.
They tacked our ship round this morning and one of the blocks hit one of the sailors, striking him in the forhead cutting a fine gash in it, and as near as nick it whirling two men overboard.
Another sad occurrence has taken place this morning, a Scotch couple, the name of Sutherland, whose only child a infant 12 months old, died at 7.30 a.m. in convulsions. 4 O clock D.M. the funeral
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[Page 57]
is about to take place, the Union Jack is hoisted half mast high, the coffin is then placed on the side of the ship, an iron weight is then fastened to the foot of the coffin, and when the sentence was read we therefore commit this body to the deep, the board was tilted and the body was in the deep.
A low shriek arose from the females present and they shed a few dew drops, the service was speedily closed, and the parents had lost their little cherub which only the day before was apparantly in no danger.
I must tell you that the body is sewn up in canvas, put into a bit of a box, and
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stones put in for sinking purposes.
This occurrence has cast a gloom over best part of the passengers especially the females, for it seems so strange to see anything of that dropped into the deep.
Wensday June 27th /6/83
12 O Clock midnight. The moon is shining beautiful, it is pleasant upon deck to night, this being my watch below.
6 a.m. this is a beautiful morning, we have seen hundreds of porpoises this morning and flying fish, we see more or less of the flying fish every-day lately.
We have a squall presently I can see it coming miles, I have watched it until it got within
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about 20 yards of the ship and then got quickly under cover, then all of a sudden it came down heavens hard wetting one through in a crack, these squalls are of very common occurrence especially in the tropics.
Thursday June 28/6/83
We have a beautiful morning this morning.
I have had my hair cut to day which cost 6d.
We can purchase salmon or condensed milk, sardines, red herrings, lobster or bacon, but it is very hot in the mouth. I have not bought much myself, 10d for a tin of salmon, 10d for a tin of condensed milk, 8d for a tin of sardines, 1½for a red herring.
They have
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put the ships Log shown to us to day on the blackboard, but I missed seeing it, but we are 8 degrees out of course which I believe amounts in English miles to 556 miles, having had a head wind all the week.
We sighted a bark this evening on the port bow.
Friday, June 29th /6/83
4 O Clock a.m. A fine morning.
We crossed the Line this morning just before 4 O Clock a.m., of course you must understand what I mean, I mean the Equatorial line. Some of the chaps have had a good ducking in the tub, one fellow has been properly shaved.,
Well I have been very miserable with the toothache
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so I have resolved to have it taken out, as I have spent most of the night rolling about the deck. I have been sea sick again or rather I have been sick through my own foolishness. I had some oil of tar to put in my tooth and I accidently swallowed some of it, but it did not ease it much, so one of the chaps gave me a chew of twist so what with oil of tar and tobacco, I made myself properly sick.
Saturday June 30th /6/83
A fine morning again but the sea is very rough. The tins and things are enjoying themselves by doing a hornpipe.
In the night we had to get out of our
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bunks and make them fast, as they were first from one side to the other, making a first rate charm.
I have been sea sick again this morning, but I are not the only one, as our ship pitches fine this morning. We have had a good breeze in our favour since we crossed the Line yesterday, from 4 O Clock yesterday morning up till 12 to day that is 32 hours we have sailed 347½ miles that is a very good run to day.
At dinner time we had to hold our plates and things as they were all alive. Its charming work just as you sit down to have your soup it upsets all over the table then you quietly get thrown on the top of one another, just to keep you alive dont you see.
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Sunday July 1st /7/83
A beautiful morning again we have a good sharp breeze this morning.
We are very busy this morning cleaning ourselves ready for the muster. I have had a red herring for my breakfast, but we have a meat pie for dinner to day, and rice pudding for tea. The fresh bread we get this 3 or 4 days is sour when we get it.
We have passed one month of this life, but its a very lazy life. It is rather amusing to hear the sailors singing out a song as they are pulling the ropes. The days begin to get much shorter than when we set out as it gets dark by 6 O Clock in the evening, and at the same time
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in the morning.
July 2nd 7/83 Monday
We have another fine morning the sun is very warm this morning, you might think we were in the Arctic regions instead of the tropics.
If you see some of the Irish chaps we have aboard, one fellow I took stock of in particular, he had on flannen [consisting of flannel] pants, flannen shirts, thick trousers and a waistcoat, and a flannen slop and fur hat and a nice little muffler round his neck.
Tuesday July 3rd /7/83
A fine morning again.
We have not been making much progress to day.
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Wensday July 4th /7/83
A beautiful morning again.
We have to air our beds to day, and have a general turn out. We begin to settle down in our present situation, to day has been very warm.
Thursday July 5th /7/83
A beautiful morning this morning. We have a good sharp breeze to day.
I have been doing a little washing, I have washed out a shirt, towel and scarf; I dont mind washing but it has rubbed the skin off my fingers, and I can tell you I dont like that.
Friday July 6th /7/83
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A clean and bright morning, we are fortunate I think not to have had to be hatched down, up till the present time we have had our liberty, so the wether has been very favourable so far. We have made good progress to day before a stiff breeze, and I hope we shall be favoured with good wether.
We still see the southern cross, which has been visible this last fortnight, which of course is only visible in the evening. It is 4 stars which assume the shape of a cross thus [rough sketch of four points representing the southern cross]. This cross we seen all the remainder of the journey, and is always visible in this country in the evenings, another thing we see here in the evening, which we
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dont see at home, that is the Milkway way of the south which is a Milky streak sight across the sky.
We have to while away the hours principally by playing cards for hours together.
Saturday July 7th /83
This morning it is very cloudy and it has rained very freely at intervals, it still continues very dull, and there is a very mild breeze blowing.
The sheep we have aboard are beginning to die, the butcher killed one to day, and he had to just help another to die, or he would not have waited for the butchers knife.
You would laugh if you were
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to see our drum and fife band the chaps have got up among themselves. There was one chap with a cornet, 2 more with flutes, one with a pair of bones, the kettle drummer had an old biscuit box for his drum, hung round his neck with a bit of string, and the triangle was a sailors spike so altogether they made a very nice charm. As they paraded round the deck house, plaing different lively marches.
Sunday, July 8th /7/83
This morning is fine. They altered the course of our ship about 6 O clock last night, but they had to put her back again a6 11 O clock the same evening.
We had
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a regular Saturday nights barny last night, some of the fellows were putting rope round the legs of them that were in their bunks, and dragging them out of their bunks.
We have gone through our regular Sunday morning routine and shall be having dinner presently. I had a nice rasher of bacon this morning for my breakfast, and a bit of meat pie for dinner, and we had a tin of salmon for tea.
A night or two ago 2 of our chaps that were on watch got up on deck for a blow. They spread a report among the passengers that they saw the second mate with two single girls walking the poop, the time would then be about
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2 O Clock in the morning.
The Second mate and the two girls however wished to have things put to rights, as they were very dissatisfied, so accordingly poor old Jef as we have daubed him, the same youth that was lashed in the rigging, and holy Joe our Parson, was taken on the Poop, just to give the matter a clearing up.
The girls at once got very excited, for some of the girls attempted to cat maul him a little. But the mate and the matron held them back, poor old Jef was evidently very much frightened, Mr holy Joe was very comfortable talking to some of the girls in the back-ground, and evidently thought he would swing clear
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Upon poor old Jef getting released the chaps tried to carry him shoulder high but he would not allow them. The matron now turned her attention upon the unfortunate parson, while he was thus busily engaged one of the Irish girls got behind him, with a piece of sutted canvas, and made a complete nigger of him, the black canvas was then thrown down on to the deck. As soon as he came down he had it wiped round his face again he was then successfully raised on to 4 of the chaps shoulders, and run round the main deck twice, he was then held up in the
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Front of the single girls on the poop, for a minute or two, who heartily enjoyed the fun. He was then released and was undoubtedly glad to get away I should think he would be careful what he says about people in future.
The matter created a great deal of excitement, it was about the best bit of fun we have had since we came aboard.
The sails are flopping idly about the yards to day.
Monday July 9/7/83
We have a fine morning, the sea is as the saying goes as smooth as glass. We are at quite a stand still, we have
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got some fresh companions this morning, they are Cape Pegions. These are pretty birds they are black and white their marks are very regular, and I believe they are very tame by all account, the mate tells me that they are very easily caught with a line baited with pork.
The crew are very busy to day taking down all the light sails and putting up the heavy ones, ready for rough wether.
We had our boxes up to day, some of the chaps clothes have suffered much. Barrels of flour that have been upset at different times have penetrated through the joints of their boxes, and made a nice mess of their
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togs, mine have escaped it well, they are as nice as when they were packed, so it made us very busy for a few hours.
I must tell you we are begining to loose our utensils, we have to lock them up every time we use them, and the chaps are begining to grumble about the food, the[y] think they do not get their share, so we divide our sugar, and lock it up after every meal.
We have spent a very pleasant, we have had fine sport this evening playing at Judge and Jury.
A youngster died last night, a little boy 12 months old died at 9 p.m.
Tuesday July 10/7/83
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4 O Clock a.m. My watch this morning. I never saw such a sight as the breaking of day and the rise of the sun at sea, it was a magnificent sight. We have a brisk breeze blowing this morning.
Right aft one of the sailors let go a marling spike when he was up the mizen rigging, very lucky as it did not strike anyone, it came down with great force on to the poop burrying itself in the deck about 3 inches.
The little boys funeral took place at 4 O Clock this afternoon, it was very rough at the time and raining very fast.
Wensday July 11/7/83
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The sea is very rough and the breeze is so strong that they got a good part of her canvas in at 8.30, fearing some of her parts might get carried away, any-one on deck this morning stand a good chance of getting wet through, great seas coming over her bulwarks.
Thursday July 12/7/83
The sea is much rougher this morning than ever it has been since we started. They have taken half the sails in, I have been sick all day, several people have been washed across the deck to day. The seas comes across her bulwarks in tons.
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The sea is still very rough. I got washed across the deck myself to day, the ships a great deal of water to day, her lee side dips under and picks up tons over her bulwarks. I have not been sick to day. Another baby died to day.
Saturday July 14th /7/83
A fine morning, sea not quite so rough to day.
Baby that died yesterday buried this morning just after breakfast.
We had a sing-song this evening just to make it seem like Saturday night.
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Sunday July 15th /7/83
A fine morning, the sea is still going down. We are travelling at 11 knots per hour.
We have now gone through our Sunday performance and dinner over.
We have a great number of Cape birds following our ship, for all bits of refuse, which we throw overboard, these are the only things we have to attract our attention.
The wether is begginning to get very cold, we have put our top coats on and scarfs to keep ourselfs warm.
Monday July 16th /7/83
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A fine morning.
The Parson that had his face blacked had another trick played upon him, while he was on the 4 to 7 watch, he went on deck contrary to the regulations, some busy body emptied the contents of a treacle jar into a cap he had made to wear during the voyage, while his back was turned. This was not a very pleasant joke at all.
There is lots of cape regions being caught to day, we are making a small pie with some of them and some pork.
We are doing very little business to day, the sails flopping idly on the yards.
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Tuesday July 17th /7/83
A beautiful morning, the sun is very warm to day, it is a top coat warmer to day. We are pretty near becalmed the sails lie idly on the yards again to day.
We have our beds up to air to day, some of the married peoples beds have been examined by the captain and doctor some of the beds belonging to some Irish people have been pitched over-board, and bed clothing disinfected and washed on account of their being lousy. I should not like to be exposed like some of them were to day, one can see some curious sights on a journey like this fancy abour a 100
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folks hunting for scoth greys thats a sight you dont see every day.
Wensday July 18th /7/83
This morning is rather dull. A nice breeze sprung up during the night so we are making a little progress to day.
As the wether is so very cold, and changeable, a quarrel arose between two married men only ending in blows. One of the men striking the other on the head with a hammer making a fine gash in his head.
Thursday July 19th /7/83
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A fine morning, wet afternoon.
Nothing of note to day.
Friday July 20th /7/83
A wet miserable morning rain fell all day.
Compelled to bide below and amuse ourselves as best we can.
Saturday July 21st /7/83
A wet miserable morning. 11 a.m. rain just stopping but it is bitter cold.
The captain of 42 Mess has had a present from the single girls, which was a parcel which contained the following articles, a rude scotch cap, a tooth comb,
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a bit of flannel, soap, needles, cotton, and an old linen collar, and a note asking him to pay them a visit tomorrow Sunday, and hoping he will be sure to have all the things on.
So the chaps rigged him out at once, and carried him round the deck shoulder high to the poop amidst roars of laughter, everyone enjoying the fun, skipper and all. I expect we will have more fun with this fellow tomorrow.
We had a free and easy this evening and passed a very pleasant hour.
Sunday July 22nd /7/83
A fine morning but very cold.
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When on deck this morning to the muster I find the Captain who had the present yesterday appeared in grand style this morning as he had got them all on, creating a good deal of fun amongst us all.
1 oclock we have a steady downpour of rain, making things very uncomfortable.
We had to day for the first time preserved potatoes and I tell you they were first class.
No one on board had any chance to see their sisters to day as they put the poor Captain who had the present from the girls, neck and crop down the hatch way where they lower the food down the slide to the single girls.
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So he had the pleasure of going where none of the other single fellows had been, so the Doctor was offended and would not allow any visiting.
Monday July 23rd /7/83
A very cold morning, we have had so very severe hail storms this morning.
A dispute arose this morning at the stores some of the captains thought they were short weight in the quantity of flour allowed. One mess ought to have had 10lbs 4oz according to the scale of rations, but only received 5lbs 4oz leaving them 5lbs short. For the remainder of the voyage each captain
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will have to see that the proper weight is received.
The sea runs very high to day making her toss about like a cork on the water.
This afternoon two of the married men were trying to scoop out their coffe cans by leaning over the monkey rail. As she was rocking pretty fair at the time, when she suddenly gave a heavy roll, and picked up a heavy sea, I really though they was overboard. It took them off their feet, and before they had time to come to themselves, she dipped again and gave them a second editon, if they was not they got a fair ducking.
We made a good run yesterday 300 miles.
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Tuesday July 24th /7/83
A fine morning the sea has gone down a good deal during the night, but still we have a very brisk breeze.
Nothing of note to day, it now gets dark at 4 O clock so the nights seem very dark.
Wensday July 25th /7/83
A fine morning, it is beautiful on the deck this morning.
We have had a very pleasant day to day, the young men went visiting their sisters this afternoon being as they did not see them on Sunday.
It is a dark wet miserable night so we cannot walk on deck to night
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for exercise.
Friday July 27th /7/83
A very dull damp and cold day. We need a good deal of warm clothing on days like these.
We have to spend our time below with our overcoats on playing cards.
6 O Clock p.m. it had now cleared up a little we can now walk on deck.
Saturday July
The day omitted from Wensday to Friday is below
Thursday July 26th /7/83
A bright morning but very
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cold.
the butcher killed a pig to day, we had a bonny currant roll to day which went down very well.
5 p.m. the evening has turned out very wet. We had a good round game at Speculation using broken buiscuits for a fest game, but they grew to much. We had about 96 in all the game but there were over 300 bits when we had ended the game.
Saturday 28th July 7/83
A nasty damp morning. 11 a.m. cleared up a little but it is very cold.
There has been several large birds caught to day.
I made a few short
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breads to day which were very good.
We had a free and easy this evening and passed a very pleasant hour
Sunday July 29th 7/83
A wet morning. We had our roll call between decks to day, as the wether is very cold and a squall is just blowing, which has carried away the flying jib. We have only the three lower topsails out, and we are going at 10 knots per hour.
Monday July 20/7/83
A dull morning but we
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have a very brisk breeze. We have only got half her canvas on, you would laugh if you were to see the peas soup flying about to day in all directions.
We had a regular search this morning in our mess for scotch greys, rather a pleasant job as you may guess, anyway I will just tell you how we got on.
I must tell you we have a lot of dirty Irishmen down our hatch, but thanks be to God there are none in our Mess, although one of our chaps associates with them. The lousy beggars are alive with them, all my mess mates happen to be Englishmen.
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I caught 3 on my shirt, the chap that is so fond of the Irishmen caught 11 on his signet and his shirt. 7 of us managed to score 22, this being the first time we overhauled our things but we intend to overhaul them every other evening.
This eveing is very foggy.
Tuesday July 31st /7/83
A very dull morning, we have a good breeze on our quarter, and are scudding along under full sail.
We had a fine pudding to day made of soaked buiscuits and currants, and suet which was excellent.
I am just beggining to fall in
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with this life, getting more into the routine of the thing more every day washing for instance instead of rubbing the skin of your fingers with your shirt, only just make them fast to a rope end and tow them alongside for a hour and you would be surprised to see the effect this has upon the things.
They only just want wrencing through a little fresh water, just to take the sticky nature off them. I are just begging to tumble to a thing or two.
August 1st /8/83
A clear bright morning.
This has favoured all who
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has dirty things with a good opportunity to wash them, and all seem to have taken advantage of the wether. Our ship looks more like a second-hand clothes shop more than any-thing else.
We are scudding along beautiful with the wind on the quarter, it is a real treat to be upon deck this morning.
I made some more short breads to day, and about a pound and a half of toffe between me and my pal.
The crew have been shifting some of her cargo forward, which was Portland cement. Our ship carries a cargo of cement and machinery besides her 424 souls.
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Thursday August 2nd /8/83
A fine morning, and a very brisk breeze blowing. We are going under ful sail.
I and another of my mates went down the main hold to our boxes, and we got at them at length with great difficulty, however we got what we wanted and when we was returning from among the boxes, my jacket which I had but on top of some boxes fell off and this diary I have had so much trouble to keep, fell from the pocket down between the water tanks in the hold.
I was in a nice fix for a time thinking for
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certain I had lost it. After Ύ hours donkey work moving boxes, I succeeded in recovering it. I shall be more careful of it in futre.
Our fore-royal was torn away to day we are making good head-way.
August 3/8/83
A dull morning this morning.
Some of the married folk had a rare fright last night, the seas come over her bulwarks to some old tune carry-ing a lot of fixtures off the deck, and the middle water-C-was bent in some curious shapes by the force of the seas.
The water poured down the main-hatch-ways in tons.
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Some of the women thought the blessed ship was going to sink, and began crying they were so terrified.
3 of the sailors had a narrow escape of being washed overboard. To day the sailors have been very busy setting things to rights.
It has been very cold to day but we have been moderately well.
August 4/8/83
A fine morning, we are making progress to day, the sails are flopping about idly on the yards.
I must tell you that there is a great difference
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in my appetite and so you would think if you were to see me at my meals, it makes little difference to me what sort of grub we get, a good piece of fat boiled pork goes down beautiful, and as to quantity I can shift a moderate amount.
The breeze has freshened a little and we are scudding along moderately well.
Sunday August 5/8/83
A fine morning, very cold, and a brisk breeze. Sea running rather high. We have now gone through our Sunday routine.
We had a nice meat pie for our
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dinner to day, I have made 2 short breads each for our mess to day for our tea the days seem to pass away very quick now to what they used to do.
Monday August 6/8/83
Monday 1 O Clock a.m. We are now upon our morning watch 12 till 4 a.m.
My mate has an aunt and uncle aboard, and he can get almost what he pleases, so on our watch we had a 6 pound tin of mutton, some English tea, so we had a grand feed, and had plenty for breakfast.
8 O Clock a.m. it is a very wet morning and
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very cold, sudden squalls keep blowing, and a sort of calm between which makes it very bad for us.
The single girls have had a tea party, had extra flour, currants, baking powder, butter and cabin tea and so on. These are extras but we dont see many extras.
This I believe is bank holiday, and by the difference now in the time which is about 10 hours and 20 minutes before Grenwick time, Sydney time id 10 hours 40 minutes fast of Greenwich time.
Now as we are retiring to rest, you are thinking of where you are going to spend your holiday.
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Tuesday August 7/8/83
A fine morning but very cold. we had a heavy fall of snow at 11 a.m. A very poor breeze to day.
A fire broke out down the main hold this afternoon but happily some one was near and it was quickly extinguished.
August 8/8/83
A wet morning, the rain is pouring down in torrents, and bitter cold.
11 a.m. a sudden gale has just commenced to blow. They have our ship to so we are now drifting with the tide. We have only three lower top-sails up this is
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the worst wether we have had since we set out. The wind roars through the rigging, and she is rocking a good deal.
I should love you to see us at tea to night the things go flying about in all directions. We cannot walk two yards without catching hold of something.
6 O Clock p.m. the gale is still blowing with unabated force and we are just about to turn into our bunks, as that is the best place this sort of wether.
There had been another fire down the main hold again to day, one of the stores assistants dropped a naked candle
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down amongst the boxes, it took two buckets of water to extinguish it.
The gale abated a little about 12 O Clock to night.
Thursday August 9/8/83
A fine morning after the gale of yesterday and a moderate wind blowing.
We have received orders from the doctor to scrub all the wood work belonging to each mess, so we shall be rather busy for a while.
The breeze has stiffened nicely and we are sailing at about 12 knots per hour.
Friday August 10/8/83
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A very blusterous morning and very cold. a gale sprung up this afternoon about 4 p.m. accompanied by very heavy hail and snow storms. The gale blew right astern of us so we run before it.
About 5 p.m. it snapped the chain supporting the main sail, this chain is of good strength being made of 5/8 round iron. The sail made a great noise flopping about in the wind.
10 p.m. the gale is still blowing, we are sailing before it with our fore sheet, fore lower top-sail, fore top sail, main lower top sail, main top sail and mizen top sail.
Saturday August 11/8/83
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A wet morning, the gale abated about 1 O Clock this morning but not without doing a little damage. It pretty near washed the pig-sty and hen pen overboard. The sea came over her bulwarks by tons, 11 of the hens were drowned in the pen. Broke down a lot of fixtures of the deck, broke down the engine funnel and done other damage.
I had it from good authority that some of the single girls went to bunk with their clothes on, fearing the ship might come to grief, and besides this their was a lot of praying going on, but we run well before the gale all the while.
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Sunday August 12/8/83
A fine morning not half so cold to day.
At the muster this morning, the Captain made a general subscription throughout the whole ship for the benefit of the Merchant Seamans Orphanage Society, we have spent a very quiet day to day.
Monday August 13th /8/83
A fine morning, to day the single girls made a subscription among them for Louie the black cook, for he has been very obliging to us all, so they gave him a sovereing as a
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sort of return for his kindness, for he has done above his duty toward all of us.
The sailors have been very busy to day sugey, mugeying, the Skipper and Doctor mean having all clean to go into harbour.
Tuesday Aug 14th /8/83
A fine morning.
The married people made a subscription for Louie the black cook, and his two assistants, which amounted to 35s/6d. 18s was given to Louie and the remainder divided between his two assistants.
The married folk had a tea party this evening given by the Doctor. After tea there was a sort
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of concert, at which any of the single men could go as choosed. After several songs the Skipper was presented with a testimonial, signed by the passengers of Cardigan Castle, for his general kindness through out the voyage. Upon which he made a short speech and said he was taken aback. He thanked them kindly and said he would always be glad to see any of us, in ant part he would always make us welcome.
We were to have had a tea fight to day but we declined it as the quantity was to small. The Doctor had the face to send down 22lbs of flour, 4lbs of jam, 6lbs of lump sugar, 6lbs of moist
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sugar, 10 tins of condensed milk, 4lbs of butter, 6lbs of rasins, amongst 84 single men, this would have scarcely been a bite a piece so it was returned accompanied with a note to the Doctor which ran as follows
Sir
We the single men of the Cardigan Castle beg to decline your most gracious gift, and could not think of accepting it unless three times that amount.
Signed
Single Men
The Doctor has been very awkward with us for the past 9 weeks but he will
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not be any-thing in by it.
Wensday August 15/8/83
A clear bright morning.
Everybody seems on the one topic, how long shall we be now before we get in, and so-on.
We made a bit of a subscription amongst ourselvs for Louie the cook and his two mates, we managed to get 21s we gave 10s to Louie, and the remainder to his two mates.
7 O Clock p.m. The decks are crowded to night, as we are expecting to sight Cape Ottoway, we expect to be in the straits to night at 12-, 8"10 p.m. just sighted light, but not on Cape Ottoway, on
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Kings Island at the mouth of the straights.
10 p.m. we have passed the second light on Kings Island, some of the chaps propose sitting up all night ready for to catch the first glimpse of Australia, which we expect to sight at early morning.
We have been alone on the water up till to night 48 days without seeing land, light or sail, having seen nothing since the 28 of June. It seems as if you were alone on the ocean.
Thursday August 16/8/83
5 O Clock a.m.
A fine morning we have just sighted the coast of Australia, a point called
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Wilsons Promontory, 8/30 a.m. just signalled to the lighthouse, so they will know we are coming as they will telegraph from this station to Sydney, and therfore they will be on the look out for us.
It is a splendid sight this lovely morning it is surprising to see what a number of great rocks there are in these straits. The name of these straits are Bass Straits.
When passing the lighthouse on Wilsons Promontory, we passed through a very narrow piece of water, indeed for a sailing ship, Australia being on the port side and Rotunda Rock on the starboard side, Rotunda Rock is a great mass to be steering through on a dark
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night, these are the sort of bits that tickles them up if they come in contact with them.
I could plainly see the folk by the lighthouse walking about, and the other rock was just as close, so the distance across the straits at this point could not be great between.
The decks was covered with people.
Evening 9 p.m. beautiful and moonlight, the decks are covered, and we have plenty of music. We have now lost sight of our future land.
10 p.m. we can see a fire on shore and it is supposed it is a part of bush on fire. We sighted a large steamer and sailing vessel, to day.
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Friday August 17/7/83
A beautiful morning, we are still in sight of land, and we can just see Cape Howe. Every body seems as busy as bees, we have got our boxes up, and the chaps have been getting out their best togs ready for landing. How I wish my friends could see the commotion and bustle on deck. Talk about a second hand clothes shop, that is not in the piece.
The crew are getting the anchors of the bows, what the sailors commonly call cock-billying the anchor. We have got a sort of a half gone chap
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aboard the name of Jones. We have had a fine lot of fun out of this fellow all the voyage, but I think we shall have the best fun of all to night.
The storekeeper had a testamonial presented to him, and poor Jones seeing so many of them have testamonials, thought he was entitled to one, so the Lamplighter promised to get one up for him and I can tell you the Lamplighter did not have much rest until he had fulfilled his promise.
Poor Jones was very anxious about it, I expect it will be ready to present it to him by evening, the testamonial has been signed by about 200
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people, they are now about ready to give it to him. The noble place where they have decided to give it to him is the pigsty, on the main deck.
A married man the name of Evans is going to present it to him. A tub was placed on top of the pigsty, Mr Jones was then elevated on the tub, Mr Evans then made a short speech, then by the aid of a lamp, Mr Evans read the head of the testamonial which ran as follows
We the Undersigned
In presenting this their heart-felt testamonial to Ebenezer Jones, wish to test-
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-ify, their appreciation of the able manner in which he has made himself sick with pickles and jam, the scrupulous cleanliness of his clothes, the alacrity with which he has always obeyed his officers, the noble dives he has taken in the flour tanks, the noble yet serene sleeps he has taken daily behind the storehouse door, and last of all but by no means least the great care which he has always taken of the ladies and babies
And then he read the signatures which ran thus Robert the Devil, Sally Squash Tommy Othewattle, Pudding, Charlie marmalade, Lady go Light;y,
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Billy dripping Pan, Happy Sal, Happy Jim, Mary ugly Mug, Johnny Treacle, Alice dab Toe, Eli flim, Ginger bread Poll, Holy Joe, Lancashire Sall, Man Friday, Jemimah, Grey.
And so on every-one present splitting their sides with laughter.
I must tell you a most appropriate one, this fellow always appears in rags, and generally washes his face once a week wether it wants or no. Mr Jones then made a mixed up speech, in which he protested against having eaten the jam, and pickles. Saying he would sooner go to hell than eat the jam, and he would rather go to
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the Devil than eat the pickles, creating a great amount of laughter amongst all.
Saturday August 18/8/83
A fine morning.
We can just dimly see the coast of Australia, but unfortunately the wind is against us, so we cannot go which way we choose.
They have only 3 days provisions from the store, it was a beautiful sight to see the sun set, there was some magnificent colour in the sky, it was really a very pretty picture, it kept changing colours which looked beautiful.
Mr Jones the fool was made the object of more fun this evening. The
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Doctor asked him to make a speech, as the journey was drawing near the close. He was again elevated upon the pigsty, and made a very laughable speech in which he did not forget the ladies and babies, he said he was sure there was 3 ladies that admired him, and then he mentioned their names before all the people causing great roars of laughter.
He continued with his eloquent speech for some time, when some of the chaps began to shot pieces of fat bacon at him and all sorts of rubbish. Poor Jones having to retire very quickly from his most noble position and seek the mate who had pity on the poor chap.
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Sunday Aug 19/8/83
A fine morning, but very little breeze.
We mustered at 8 a.m. upon deck and held divine service at 11 a.m.
It had been beautiful upon deck this morning. Every-body seems to have taken advantage of the wether it puts me in mind of the first part of our voyage to see the passengers lying about the deck in all directions.
The passengers were all anxious of seeing where we was when the Latt and Long was put on the blackboard. The Long was
Latt 34 D 50 M South
Long 153 D 09 M East
Distance from Sydney 109
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miles and what little wind we have is blowing ahead of us.
7 p.m. the wind has now changed to the opposite direction, so we are now going with the wind on the quarter.
The sail maker caught a large albatross this evening, with a line baited with pork, which appeared as it was sailing on the water about the size of a duck but when it was hauled upon deck it was a fine bird. The distance across its wings was 9ft 8in ½ the webb of its foot measured 10 ½ inches, it had a brownish back and white underneath it. The sail maker gave it to the doctor, who has quite a variety
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of sea birds skins ready for stuffing when he gets there.
Monday August 20/8/83
A bright morning we hope to be in harbour to day. The wind having gone round in out favour.
At 12 a.m. to day we were 35 miles from Sydney heads.
1.30 p.m. we have just hoisted our signalling halyards, that is the British ensign, for the tug to come and tow us in. There very soon 4 tugs along sicle and two small screw, the last tug that came up was a very powerful things, the Commodore of Sydney which towed
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us to Neutral Bay where the officer of Board of Health boarded her and examined us all.
We dropped anchor in Neutral Bay at 3-5 p.m. having just 5 minutes under 80 days. We were then towed to an anchorage a little higher up the harbour, where we settled for the night.
Several of the peoples friends came aboard during the evening. As the tug was lying alongside what fish they could spare, amongst us me and Arnold got a nice snapper each weighing about 4 pounds each, which we had fried and relished very much
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we have arrived at a very wet time, we expect to get ashore tomorrow early.
I can tell you it was a lively scene to see the commotion aboard when we were coming in to harbour, the Emigration Agent came aboard at 9 p.m. took our names, ages, professions and a lot of fuss.
The rain still falls very heavy.
Tuesday August 21/8/83
The rain is still falling very fast.
The single girls went ashore at 9 a.m. this morning. The boat has just come alongside
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with fresh provisions, meat, potatoes and nice fresh bread. I can tell you it is a treat to get some nice sweet bread. Just after breakfast I got a nice bit of beef stake of the cook.
The first news we got hold of was that Carey was shot and there is a man of war lying here with three Irish informers aboard. The people will not let them land, I believe there names are Hanlan, Smith and Kavener.
I must tell you there is one man and his wife and 5 children whose weight altogether is only 17 stone. I should say that they are some of Dr Tanners breed.
We
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got ashore at two O clock p.m. and was very pleased to get our feet on something solid, we feel very awkward for a time walking about. We went up the line 5 miles the first day to Petersham to a Mr Lockyers, a Bir-ng chap and we made ourselves very tired I can tell you. That was a long way to go on land for the first time. We came back by the steam tram from Petersham.
Tomorrow when we come ashore we intend to find Mr Kent at Alexandria.
Wensday Aug 22/8/83
We found Mr Kent all right and three or four
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O the Nechells familes into the bargain. We can get a first class meal here for 6d. as I have already told you, we have walked a good deal to day and are very tired.
We have left the ship altogether and brought away our boxes.
I will just give you a little information of a thing or two I have learnt since I have been here.
Now first of all the natives of this country are called by names according to the different tribes. The tribes that are to be found chiefly here are know as Aborigines.
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These people think they are handsome if they have got a nose that spreads out all over their face, and I can easily account for this as I have frequently seen the mothers with their children, carrying them in their style and as a rule the poor little kid has his legs all tucked up and his face flat against his mothers back, with its poor little nose as flat as a pancake.
None of your pinching it up to make it look a good shape, oh no nothing like that about them. Well the mothers are are what people call them here black gins.
These people have privilige
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to ride on steam tram or on the railway free of charge, and they get every year 2 blankets and a tent each. There are other tribes which I know very little about, some tribes know when they are together or who they are in certain ways.
Some tribes I know of have their little finger cut of at the second joint, and ther tribes has rings through their nose and their feautres carved about, and so on. Then we have a fearful lot of china-men here none of the colonials like the chous, they all have 10 £ s each man to pay before they
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can come ashore, and no Captain can bring only one china-man to every 10 tons of cargo. Their chief employment is cabinet making and gardening, and I can tell you they are fine gardeners, they can grow some fine vegetables.
I can tell you that a chap wants to be very careful how he goes on here when he is knocking around, as their a class of chaps here who have no principle nor nothing else. Commonly known as Larakins, and their female friends as Laraknesses. If you say anything to one of these fellows you jolly soon have
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a score around you.
The orange trees here are three years before they bare fruit and then they have 2 crops a year for ten years and then they are done with.
Apricots are very plentiful here, now just at Christmas time we get them 1d and 1d½ per doz[?].
I cannot tell you more as I are getting tired of this affair, but I hope who ever should happen to read this little lot of scribbling that they will forgive my bad writing
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as I have so often got tired of my task.
I are
W.A.T.
A little about the Cardigan
Her registered tonnage - 1,200 tons
Carrying capacity 1,999 tons
Her length 228 feet
Depth 22
Beam 36 wide
Poop 44 long
Forecastle 22
Hold 160 Mizen Mast 110 feet high
Main mast 130
Fore mast 130
Bowsprit 20 long
Boom 60
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The Emigrants stores 400 tons
Ships charted money 4,000 £s
Doctors salary 10s per head
Double crew 42 in number
d signifies degrees and m minutes
the log or course of our ship
June Lattitude - Longitude
1st
2nd 49d34m North 5d20m West
3rd 47d06m 8d30m
4th 45d06m 12d28m
5th 42d56m 14d10m
6th 39d39m 14d06m
7th 37d00m 11d16m
8th 34d48m 12d40m
9th 33d12m 14d30m
10th 31d50m 16d50m
11th 30d07m 18d06m
12th 28d04m 19d49m
13th 27d04m 20d26m
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June Lattitude Longtitude
14th 25d26m North 22d05m West
15th 24d05m 22d48m
16th 23d10m 23d43m
17th 21d48m 24d18m
18th 19d24m 25d00m
19th 17d30m 25d30m
20th 15d14m 25d20m
21st 12d48m 25d37m
22nd 10d22m 25d10m
23rd 8d16m 24d26m
24th 6d33m 23d24m
25th 5d20m 22d21m
26th 4d44m 19d47m
27th 3d46m 21d27m
28th 1d48m 24d00m
Cross line at 4 am
29th 1d39m South 26d40m
30th 5d00m 26d51m
July
1st 8d40m 29d07m
2nd 12d37m 30d10m
3rd 14d40m 31d37m
4th 17d11m 32d20m
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Latt Long
5th 19d04m 33d30m
6th 22d32m 35d05m
7th 24d36m 36d07m
8th 25d44m 35d38m
9th 26d50m 35d00m
10th 28d08m 32d48m
11th 29d09m 28d42m
12th 30d42m 33d57m (262)
13th 31d37m 18d54m (276)
14th 32d54m 14d26m
15th 33d53m 9d50m
16th 34d55m 6d34m
17th 34d25m 4d40m
18th 35d13m 1d28m
19th 36d57m 2d05m East
20th 38d44m 6d02m
21st 40d07m 9d59m
22nd 40d23m 12d21m
23rd 41d14m 18d54m (300)
24th 42d22m 24d45m (264)
25th 43d29m 28d55m (197)
26th 44d35m 34d25m (245)
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Long South Latt East
27th 44d55m 37d40m (140)
28th 44d32m 39d32m (84)
29th 44d38m 44d26m (208)
30th 55d22m 49d39m (227)
31st 44d35m 55d33m (256)
August
1st 44d49m 62d53m (300)
2nd 45d05m 69d57m (304)
3rd 45d23m 76d31m (279)
4th 45d28m 82d53m (270)
5th 45d53m 88d47m (279)
6th 45d07m 95d58m (312)
7th 45d08m 101d44m (244)
8th 45d36m 105d03m (145)
9th 45d48m 106d26m (86)
10th 45d07m 111d30m (218)
11th 45d09m 119d30m (321)
12th 45d19m 125d19m (250)
13th 43d02m 131d10m (288)
14th 43d02m 138d55m (321)
15th 40d11m 141d52m (242½)
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16th 39d15m South 147d35m East (268)
17th 38d15m 149d14m (280)
18th 36d15m 150d36m (190)
19th 34d50m 153d09m
20th Anchored in Neutral Bay
20th 34doom 151d59m
Just under 80 days.
A large shark has recently been caught in Woolloomooloo bay, and can be seen alive in Sydney, its length is 31 feet 9 inches in length.
[Transcribed by David Lambert for the State Library of New South Wales]