Travel Diaries and Journals

again for any length of time. We were very lucky in getting the South east Trades winds We gave Mauritius a wide berth & we sighted land, although at a long distance off on Friday evening March 26th. it proved to be land southward of Algoa Bay at the eastermost point if the Southern coast of Africa. here we encountered a strong westerly gale & had to beat to windward sometimes not making more than 10 miles a day we tacked inshore & down south close hauled to the wind. When we went within 10 miles of the shore we got fishing tackle ready & hauled up some beautiful fish called the red snapper. Somewhat like a salmon. One we caught weight nearly 12lbs. & the average was 7 or 8 lbs. After beating round the Cape for a week the process of doing [the scored through] putting me much in mind of the story of the Phantom Ship: a story well known to most sailors. it is said that the Capt. of a ship endeavouring to round the

Off E Coast of Africa

of[f] & on shore. land in sight again this mg. have had no obs. for some days.

Saturday May 13th. 1859

Light Air sprung up last evg. from the eastward & has kept up as a nice breeze dead astern today & with the effect of a strong current has made us run 214 a lunar last evg. at 9.30. made us off Cape Morgan & today at 12 we were off Algoa Bay & to the southward 60 or 70 miles reading (Blk Dragoons from Peterson)

Sunday May 15th. 1859

Fair wind Continues 11 oclock blowing stiff dead Astern Bar. falling. every one lively on bd. in the prospect of getting speedily round the Cape & to St. Helena Bay we caught a pigeon this mg. & a Carey last evg. Biscoe Skinned the pigeon today. have