147

143

with her, rattling along at a jolly good rate for Rio.
In the evening we had Cribbage and having made it
Saturday night, and had a [?] turned in.

Sunday November 2nd 1856 At Sea - Steamed
when requisite to keep close to the Star, and in the
middle watch from some mismanagement we very
nearly got foul of her - Blowing fresh, with a [jump?]
of a sea on - At 9.30 went to Divisions and inspected
ship. At 3 Commdr dined with us, and a very seedy dinner
it certainly was. Turned in about 7 and slept comfortably
till daylight.

November 3rd Wind falling light : at 10 it looked
very squally, and showers of rain came down, but no
appearance of a fair wind, making it very doubtful if
we can be in time for the mail to England. At mid day
it looked very unsettled, and had a threatning appearance.
In the evening we had Vingt un in the
Gun room by which I lost a dollar: not feeling inclined
to lose any more I had my pipe and after
a glass of grog, went to bed.

November 4th. At 5 we had a Pampero, and turned
the hands up to shorten sail: by the [no key?] how it did
rain, and the thunder was very grand, being daylight
we could not enjoy the lightning so much.
At 9 tacked and stood in towards the land, under
sail only: all chances of saving the mail for England
was now quite disposed of. In the evening we had
cribbage in the gun room, and after a pipe turned in.

November 5th A little after midnight I went on deck
to smoke, there being at the time a heavy sea running
and on coming over our taff rail, carried me, pipe & all

Gun Powder