Family History 1.730

(Shipboard diary written by my great-grandfather, Charles Gaze, aged 27)

22nd February 1860

Fine, cold and calm.

 

A Mollimawk caught by the stern cabin Passenger by a line from his window, brought on the main deck and killed. It measured 7ft 1 in. from tip to tip of each wing. Dark brown wings, white underneath and the body white. Quite an excitement to see it walk the deck, it was hung up to the main stay after it was killed.

 

S. Lat. 44=26 E. Long 113=28.

 

Feet and wings and feathers distributed.

23rd

Very fine, cold and very strong E winds reefed topsails etc, wind increased to a Gale ahead of us.

 

5 p.m. Thunderstorm and Rain, all sails tight reefed except Gib and the Foretops and Main top and they are double reefed. Ship rolls and tosses much. Very few persons on deck several sea sick, we and our children well.

 

8 p.m. hove to till half past 1.

24th

Set sail again, the sea very rough and the ship tossing about.

 

One of the ladders at main hatch fell over causing with other things rolling about a great noise. Very little sleep for anybody.

 

Weather fine and strong N wind all day.

 

Lat. 46=37, Long 119.

 

Sea rough and washing over the deck continu­ally.