“Up for a bath. Did not do much all day as I felt rather tired from last night’s exertions. In the afternoon I had a sleep in the hammock for 2 hours & was woke up by the men washing the deck down for Sunday. A few songs after tea and bed at 11. Only […]
25th October 1878 – 29th day
“Up at 7 & find our companion still in the neighbourhood (about 4 miles off) & during the day 2 more were sighted so that we have plenty of company. Arthur has been making a net all day to catch his fish in but I’m afraid he will not land much in them it. In […]
24th October 1878 – 28th day
“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). We signalled […]
23rd October 1878 – 27th day
“Up at 7 for a cold bath which is the best thing we get on board. After breakfast Arthur began a new trade that of washing his dirty clothes of which he did a goodish quantity. However he found it rather warm work. We are now of the Cape Verdi Isles but we shall not […]
22nd October 1878 – 26th day
“Up at 7. We have now picked up with the trade winds at last & although they are not very strong as yet still we are moving. Today we sighted a large sailing vessel but were not near enough to signal her. We are all getting very lazy through the hot weather & scarcely care […]
21st October 1878 – 25th day
“Arthur was up at 6 to begin fishing early but after 9 hours of it he gave it up as a bad job, thinking he was either a bad hand at it or that the fish were precious artful. It has been awfully hot all day again today & scarcely any wind. For breakfast we […]
20th October 1878 – 24th day
“Up at 6, another beautiful day. We are now 25 degrees N of the line & no wind again. Have not seen any sails to relieve the monotony. I was reading about Bath this morning & find it is the best place to send the great unwashed. Please take note of this. To give you […]
19th October 1878 – 23rd day
“Another fine day but we are not making much headway as the wind is contrary. Made a raid on a small nest of cockers & demolished the lot. We are saving some to send to England as they are fine specimens about one and a half to 2 inches long. More fishing & more luck, […]
18th October 1878 – 22nd day
“Up at 7 not feeling very bright having an old friend in to see me – the headache but feel better this evening” Extract from A.Whelen’s travel journal aboard the Hesperides sailing from England to Australia in 1878
17th October 1878 – 21st day
“Up at 7.30. Arthur went out fishing for the day & caught nothing. The sun is getting very hot & it is now as hot as on any day we had during the summer. I have left off my coat & collar & if it continues to get much hotter I shall go about in […]