Travel Diaries and Journals

An unusual number of porpoises got up. Made our bows a perfect cloud of them Kept leaping above water, & swimming along faster than the ship. the sailors got hold of a harpoon & struck one, but the shaft of the harpoon broke the line was carried off. the whole flock immediately dis- appeared. We made the land again at 10 oclock (AM) it came on to blow very hard then but it passed off as we made the land. Got up to the Western exty [extremity] of the Cape this afternoon. Saw a large Steamer under sail. Close on land, & the Aguelas light house. Passed danger point where many ships are lost. The steamer supposed to be the Himalaya from India to England with Invalids. We kept on along the land

on the other side the road to Constantia & Wynberg winds round the base of Table Mountain, the Devils Peak & the Lion's Head & Ranges. Constantia appears to stand nearly on the opposite side of Table Mountain from Cape Town. We arrived in Constantia (great) about 12 oclock in the day. The sun was very hot, & as we sat an open carriage I carried an umbrella to keep the heat of the sun off. We got out at Mr. Cloetes wine establishment. Arrived there the Genl. presented his card & we were introduced to his House (Mr. Cloetes). (Ramsay, [written below: & 2 ladies] [written above: late] the Brigade Major) at Calcutta was there, He had come down in the Himalaya on his way to England on Sick leave. in Calcutta he came on board the "Candia" when we were down at

on bd. "Ivanhoe"

the land extending a long way to the eastward dim & obscure a great number of Steamers outward bound. a lge. [written above: vessel] Supposed to be "Himalaya" with troops on bd. dipped the Ensign & lowered Skysail to her. a large number of Schooners about & other vessels. expect to be off the Isle of Wight about 10 or 11 tonight the last lans I saw on leaving England Sighted St Catharines lights at 9.15 last evening. Isle of Wight

Monday August 1st. 1859

Up at 5.30 this mg. sighted Beachy Head about 7. immense numbers if Deal boats knocking about. one came alongside about 9. oC. asked from what port & where bound? asked if we had any pas sengers to go ashore at Winchelsea for Brighton. asked charge £1. a head. followed us an hour