“Up at 8 this morning & Prepared our luggage for landing. Mr Tate & the Guv’nor arrived at 10.30 & soon we had all our cabin stock on board a small sailing yacht & landed at Sandridge Pier at 12 where we were soon spotted by a buggyman, who seemed very sharp fellows & anxious […]
29th December 1878
“We spent a very happy day on board. Fine weather & a strong breeze but quite cold in the shade. On putting on my best clothes I find that I have grown 2 or 3” broader across the chest which is I hope a good sign. Lived like fighting cocks all day & enjoyed ourselves […]
28th December 1878 – 93rd & last day
“Several squalls during the night & the rolling was awful. I was called according to an arrangement made last night at 3am & I immediately began paying Master Joey out for his game of the night before by rousting him out every quarter hour till 5 when he could not stand it any longer & […]
Sighting the Cape Otway Light – 27th December 1878 – 92nd day at sea
“All excitement today Looking out for the first land we shall sight since we saw the Isle of Wight. Fine morning with the exception of a shower of rain for a short time. At 12 we had 50 miles to go to get to Cape Otway. The first mate & captain were on the lookout […]
26th December 1878 – 91st day
“Up at 8.30. The wind has dropped a little today & we are not doing so much now. We are now in Lat 40 S & Long139 15”E & we hope to sight Cape Otway tomorrow & end our journey by Saturday. Have been very busy all day getting our things into respectable order before […]
25th December 1878 – 90th day
“It has been a glorious day hot sun & no rain. In the morning Joey & I had some beer & for dinner they gave us fresh pork which was a treat as it was the first fresh meat since we left the downs. In the afternoon we had a sleep to digest the plum […]
24th December 1878 – 89th day
“Up at 7.30. A fine day, dry but cold wind & going along beautifully. We have now only 800 miles to do & if the breeze continues we are certain of arriving there this week. Some very large seas have been over today & one came through the ventilators on the roof swamping Joey & […]
23rd December 1878 – 88th day
“Up at 8.30 after a very good night’s rest. We have had a tremendous lot of rolling today & have been shipping seas all day. This morning 1 big one walked into our room & came right up to the lower bunk. All our chairs etc began swimming round the plantation & I got a […]
22nd December 1878 – 87th day
“Up at 8 after 3 hours sleep: it has been an awful night. The very worst we have passed since we left England. All night waves kept breaking over our house and making such a noise that it was totally impossible for us to sleep. Inside our house was lots of water & it reminded […]
The Longest Day – 21st December 1878 – 86th day at Sea
“We have today The longest day same as you have the shortest one. Some of the largest waves we have had during the whole voyage have been on deck this morning while at tea with the door open, a tremendous wave came over & washed into our parlour upsetting our select circle. Tea cups & […]