“Up at 5.30 for a cold bath which was OK. Plenty of fishing but no fish. Spoke the vessel we sighted on Tuesday & with the following results. She is the ‘Roxburgshire’ of Glasgow 929 tons (flag No. for the same is PLDF) from Cardiff (BDWL) for Zanzibar (BKQR) 22 days out (WBN).

Nautical Flag Alphabet

We signalled “Hesperides” (PJRW) London (BDPQ) to Melbourne (BMVW) 21 days out (WBM) so you will see we did not quite stick to the truth as to time, but this seems to be the usual thing. We also sighted a small brig but did not signal her. Had a game of cards in the afternoon & had a turn at  learning the concertina during the evening but found it no go. Bed at 11.”

Extract from A.Whelen’s Australia travel journal sailing from England aboard the Hesperides in 1878