Family History 1.733

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

 

4th March 1860 Sunday

Fine and warmer but very calm sea, a great many thought that they saw land. We scarcely moved all day so could not tell.

Half past 10 Church Prayers on
the Poop.

3 p.m. Bible Class.

4 p.m. Dissenters Service on the Poop by order instead of between decks in the evening on acct of the Mother and Child in the Hospital, who are doing well. Address from Luke 15. 10v.

A practical joke (too much so to my mind) this afternoon on the young man (who was asleep on the poop Dec. 13th and had water thrown from the mast on him) having complained of having a swollen Nose two or 3 advised him to put some Nitrate of Silver on it, and he foolishly allowed one of them to put some on which caused his nose to turn as Black as Ink and will remain so for some time, he vows vengeance on the one that put it on but takes it

 

very good humour'dly on the whole, of course he is the laughing stock of most but pitied by very many also.

 

No large birds.

 

 

5th

Fine, warm and calm, a gentle breeze.

9 a.m. Land seen and said to be Otway but supposed to be at least 40 miles distant.

Half past 11 a.m. Kings Island seen on our right, looked like one large and 2 small hills on the horizon, So that we have land seen on both sides of us, a good view

about 3 p.m. Wind getting ahead of us and continues so.

7 p.m. Two fish caught by hook baited with rags, red and white, named Barracoota, one about 3ft long, the other rather smaller. They have a very sharp fin on their back and also large teeth.

We are all well. Lighthouse seen at night on Cape Otway. Beautiful sunset.

6th

Very fine, warm and wind much stronger but still ahead of us.

2 vessels in sight supposed to be Australian Caosters.

9 a.m. Land seen ahead of us, wind driving us towards it, a splendid view at noon, a vast tract of beautiful country. Hills, etc, marked on some maps as the Australian Alps. A large fire and large quantities of smoke seen at one point.

1 p.m. the ship put about, wind stronger, still ahead and losing the view of the coast very fast. Tacking about the rest of the day to clear Cape Liptrap. Beautiful moonlight night.

Several fish caught, 1 Flying Squid and the rest Barracoota.