Travel Diaries and Journals

Western Side of the Cape

36° odd South & 17. Something West. Tedious Slow work. 2 months from Sandheads today.

Sunday May 22nd. 1859.

Fine day sharp & Cold. fine breeze sprung up at 12 ocl yesterday & continues today. 170 miles to the northward of the Cape today read Exs. [Exodus] & some of Guthries Sermon

Monday May 23rd. 1859.

Fine Cold Sharp day. 145 Miles today. off Oliphant river. in 32° something & 12 something. read account in the Calcutta review of Dr. Leyden. Got from Payne. expect to be in St. Helena in about 10 days.

Tuesday May 24th.1859.==

[Underscored: Queens birth day] Cool & Cloudy. finished at 11 OC today ([underscored: Hooks all in the wrong]) Cabin after nearly three days steady

On bd. "Ivanhoe"

breeze. Pan potty[?] at Payne with Peterson[?]. Smoked Cheroots with Peterson in Cabin in the morn. after a Cup of tea.

Wednesday May 23rd. 1859.

Wind ahead laying NE by E. Fine Cool day a barque in Sight. going same way as ourselves reading (Scottish Cavalier Grant) played Cass[Chess?] with Mr W. last evg.

Sunday May 29th. 1859.

Have has the trades E since Friday & can almost certainly state the day we will get into St. Helena we are about 800 miles off tday & expect to get into Harbour in St. H on Friday on the boats last night with Peterson sent Bruno up among the girls Played draughts Backgammon Ecarte with Peterson & the evg.

Ascention

Wednesday June 8th. 1859.

Sighted Ascention yesterday afternoon came up within 7 miles about six oclock but did not venture into harbour the Capt. not having been in before did not care to venture. the island from the So.E. presented a series of irregular cones ending in low points at each extr. it appeared perfectly sterile & barren not a blade of grass visible it being volcanic in origin. We went tack & tack of[f] the island all night the rocks had a steep declivity down to the waters edge. this mg. at daylight we went round the island under easy sail. the Capt. Peterson Payne & I watching the different points of land as things opened. we kept about 2 miles off. saw a tent & wooden house at a place where turtle is caught be tween seven & eight I saw the masts

Ascention

& thence to the Stores. got some baggages for Cn. went to the house of a Dr. Manies had a glass wine thence to the reading room. saw there Asst. Surgeon & 3rd. Lt. (Devils Ministry out) retd. on bd. to dinner in the afternoon all of us went in the boat landed at Comfort Cove tried to Scramble up hill with Mrs. W but could not manage it. pulled up towards the peir & from thence on bd.

Thursday June 9th 1859.

Last evg. went with the Capt. on bd. two ships in the harbour. the Capt. of one McDowl a brother of McDowl Stationer in Edinr. we met him at Comfort Cove in the afternoon when pulling round the island this Mg. Payne & I went fishing close into the rocks where a number of fish swarmed round

Ascention

the boat. we caught about 2 dozen sick Cod Skip Jack & red fish. two were caught by hand by one of the sailors & Ben caught a very lazy eel which was exchanged to Capt McDowl for two Cod. pulled to the ship about 9. lost the rudder & steered with a dagg[e]er went on shore after breakfast with Mrs. R. Payne Mrs. P. Mrs. W. had a little difficulty in landing. Mrs. R. dropped her purse in the surf & lost it Coy [contained] £5 some shillings. we to the store Capt. Elliot opman's[?] asked us to his house. Walked at 12 ocl to the burial ground, Chapel & turtle pond. very hot but Sun not dealy Mrs. R. caught a parrot. I went down & got a Hip Ascention Sand. great heat off the Sand burnt my hip pitching it into the boat went to