Family History 4.18

Robinson story

Joshua's diary

Cape of Good Hope and on to Three Kings

A few days after this we made the Cape of good Hope and anchored in Table Bay. Hitherto the weather had been all that could be desired. It was intended we should make but a short stay, but on the third day a gale sprang up. The ship had to be moved with an anchor astern and such a fearful rolling took place everything that was not securely lashed went adrift. We thought her masts would have gone by the board.

After the gale, which lasted some days, we took on a quantity of wine and shipped fresh provisions. On the tenth day we made sail with a strong breeze. Before leaving the second mate and the moan petitioned the captain to let them go ashore but the captain refused.

In rounding the Cape we had stiff breezes and mountainous seas, and while the bad weather was on we had our fore topsail and jibboom carried away, and we were for a time in great danger, the wreck of the spars dashing against the bows and side of the vessel. All hands with hatchets and knives cutting the wreck of rigging clear of the ship, the second mate ably assisting in the work. He being a powerful and clever seaman he was of great service. This with other conditions prepared the way for the captain letting him off when we arrived in port.

About the third day after leaving the Cape, the gale abated, enabling damages to be repaired and fine weather with variable winds continued, not too rough but we could keep the deck.

We had service on Sundays by one or other of the clergymen. I took part with one of them in conducting a Sunday School, there being a number of children on board. It helped to vary the monotony of ship life besides the consciousness of doing some good.

The first land sighted after leaving the Cape was the Australian coast. Near the entrance of Bass Straits the captain advised the cabin passengers not to turn in that night. I thinking there might be some danger informed the steerage people and remained up on deck nearly all night. The next day we passed Port Philip Heads, a place of no particular note [Melbourne had just been founded on the shores of Port Philip Bay in 1836-FG]. At that time we were some two or three miles from land, could see the land distinct enough but distant, nothing particularly attractive.

A few days after we sighted the Three Kings and then the North Cape of New Zealand. Running down the coast we passed the Bay of Islands and then the Big Barrier. The wind was now dead ahead and going about tacking was the order of the day. At night we came to anchor inside Teri Teri. Next day a brig passed us proving to be the government brig.