Family History 1.719

(The shipboard diary of my great-grandfather, Charles Gaze, aged 27)




January
 11th  1860     

 

Latitude 29-48 South

Very fine and hot and calm. Same ship and another also seen to windward of us but a good distance.

We are all well and beginning to look pretty sunburnt, our children also, who seem to enjoy themselves with other children.    

An albatross seen today came very close to us and swam on the sea. I should say it was about 5ft from tip to tip of each wing and about 2ft 6 from beak to tail.

The ship we spoke yesterday out of sight this evening and the other coming up astern of us.

12th

Very fine and warm and calm.

10 a.m. the ship astern of us, much nearer, beginning to signal. Our ensign put up.

2 p.m. Spoke her by colours and telescope though a long distance off. American Barque from Boston for Mozambique Channel, Madagasgar

Lat 31-19 S Long 28 West.

I amused some children on the poop by playing with several of them at noughts and crosses on Charley's slate.

Water much better today. I pumped it out of cask while another passenger measured it out.

A programme of a concert and amateur performance put on the main mast as a take off, on several, especially the lovers who quarrelled last Sunday and caused so much ridiculous joking about them on Monday representing them as being about to repeat (by particular desire) their performance but unfortunately for the joke being carried out to effect, it was torn down and thrown over­board by another who was mentioned in it as about to sing with his intended the song "We may be happy yet" this match and 1 or 2 others have been made up on board.

13th

Very fine, warm and calm but sailing S.E.E. the yards square set and several stud sails (that is sails outside like wings to the yards).

Latitude 32-­24S.

The American Barque some distance East of us about half past 11 a.m.             

I noticed it to be apparently in a squall and bearing down on one side very much and very soon sailed out of sight.

A caution to parents to take charge of their children on deck signed by Chief Mate placed on the Main Mast which I think very necessary for there are some who don't seem to look after them at all and they have become a nuisance. I only wonder it has not been noticed in this way before.