Herbert Mackarsie journal

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off in millions, however I cleared my cabin, and went to sleep after making it Saturday night.

Sunday February 8th 1857. Rives-Parand. At 3 am I woke very thirsty and went into the Gun Room for a glass of water, leaving my cabin door open, not more than a minute, and on my return found it full of them: to sleep was impossible so I went on deck, and walked till day lightcame in, and then tried it again, but it was no use, so I got my feet in a bucket of water, mixed a glass of brandy and water and at last fell asleep in my chair, walking at 7 when it was time to shave and wash. At 10 we went to Divisions, the Admiral again going the rounds as usual: afterwards we had Church, the Admiral reading the Psalms and 2nd lesson. At noon the breeze shifted to the Sward and we made sail. Passed several small schooners. At 3 we were in sight of Bella Vista and a little after dark came to an anchor, some of the Officers went ashore.

February 9th At 5 weighed, and steamed away but got ashore about an hour afterwards, but soon got her off again without any damage, and made sail before a strong SW breeze for Corrientes. We kept the breeze all day. Saw a deer swimming across the River. In the evening at 7.30 came to an anchor, about 9 miles from Corrientes. Comfortably cool and not a single mosquitoe went early to bed and slept very soundly.

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February 10th At 5 got under weigh and proceeded for Corrientes where we arrived & anchored at 7.30. After Quarters the Band continued to play much to the amusement of the people who came down in crowds. At 10 the Flag Lieut called on the Captain of the Port and Governor to ascertain when it would be convenient for them to receive the Admiral. At 11 Admiral, Secretary, Flag Suff, & Coran went ashore in Cocked hats and side arms, and were soon followed by a crowd of ragged lousy urchins. They returned at noon. At 2.30 one of our boys fell overboard, who was unable to swim, and the Commdr being on deck at the time, at once jumped overboard, just as he was dressed, and fortunately succeeded in saving the poor devil just as he was going down. Any quantity of visitors on board, some by swimming and others in boats: several women wished to come up but were not allowed. In the afternoon it was very hot but several of the Officers went on shore. A little before sunset several laies and gentlemen came on board, to see our ship, and hear the band. After some refreshment they went on shore, apparently highly pleased. In the evening many of the Officers went ashore again.

February 11th 7.30 Lighted fires - 9 steam up10.33 shortnened in cable. A Gentleman came on board for a passage to Assumpsion. A French Surgeon came on board bringing a very rare plant, which he wished to send to England, but as we were

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to call here on our way back, he preferred taking it ashore again with him. In a conversaation with the Flag Suff found that the Admiral was 59 years of age but more like a man of my own age. The more I see of him and talk with him the more I like and respect him. On going out of port the band was turned up and played several tunes. May of the soliders came off to see the ship. In the afternoon we went to sea or rather up the river, anchoring at dark.

February 12th Weighed again at daylight and were brought to a stop about 9 by a fort firing three guns at us, but on our sending a boat on shore it was all right, only sorry the guns were not shotted, as we should very soon have blown their defences to pieces. After going some distance we again anchored for a Pilot, and by three we were once more under weigh for Assumpsion, anchoring again at dark when the mosquitoes came off in the old style.

February 13 At it again at daylight: morning very hot. 9, went to General Quarters: beer and [?] at 10 among the Staff. The River getting narrow and the mosquitoes intolerable. After we had anchored at dusk, a steamer was reported coming down the River, and in a short time she anchored and two of the Officers came on board and after remaining about an hour, returned. At 5.30 the Steamer left - on the 14th in order to show us the way up the River

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February 14th At daylight went to work again: passed any quantity of Alligators, Condors, Geese, River Pigs in sort all sort of devils; wasps were terrible, and Dr Martin got stung very severely, and got into a great funk about it. Thermometer in my cabin 99°. Several Valentines knocking about. Had another Pampero. Anchored at dusk. No Saturday night.

Sunday February 15th Weighed at daylight, and soon afterwards got on shore. A strong breeze blowing from the SEward, which soon changed to the Nward, causing the Thermometer to rise from 88° to 105°. About 2 the Admiral, Secretary, and Flag landed and proceeded over land to Assumpcion. In the evening most of the officers went ashore. No mosquitoes and the gun room quiet for a w., embraced the opportunity and turned in very soon.

February 16th At daylight - commenced discharging coals, water &c, so as to lighten our draft of water. Several Officers & Commdr went on shore shooting, Christian being the first to return with a brace of Partridges, and several parrots. Pilots went away sounding, it being so shoal that we could not get any further ahead. A large increase in the Sick List from Diarrhoea, probably occasioned by the water. At 9.30 a Foreign Officer came on board. Rather cool

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Cool Thermometer only 104° in my cabin so that I feel myself gradually melting away. Strange tho' true, there was not a single mosquito on board, altho' it was quite calm and we were laying not more than 15 yards from shore. Dr Martin came back with a few doves, which we were glad to have made into a pie, for breakfast next day. Officers went ashore again in the evening.

February 17th Commenced steaming at daylight and very soon got hard and fast opposite a Spanish Fleet: got hawsers out and Hedges, and worked till midnight, without any effect, after landing most of our coals, and several tons of shot. Many visitors from the shore.

February 18th At daylight commenced again, and after some trouble got her over the pass just as the Flag Suff was seen opposite but of course we did not wait for [?] but proceeded at full speed for assunsion, where we anchored. The Commander went ashore to wait on the Admiral, and on his return we saluted their Flag with 21 guns, the Admirals and our Consuls. Several visitors from the shore and also from some Steamers at anchor.

February 19th At anchor off the City of Ascunsion. About 10 the Flag Lieut came on board. Before noon a Pampero came off

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lots of rain, notwithstasnding Christian and several of the Officers went ashore. Bell split by lightning, or some other cause. In the evening, it cleared up.

February 20th Oppressively hot, fortunately scarcely any mosquitoes. All the Officers on shore again, so I had a quiet evening by myself.

February 21st As hot as ever and owing to our fat-headed commanding officer, the awnings were kept sloped. 8 Flag Lieut came off to inform the Commdr that the Admiral intended giving a Ball on board on next Monday to several of the ladies of the place. Several people came off again to see the ship. Among them as usual any quantity of Scotch. In the afternoon two ladies (query) one mined shoes and stockins. Mosquitoes bad in the evening.

February 22nd. Scarcely able to breathe and at four in the morning we had a cloud of mosquitoes off. In the forenoon Admiral came off with the Consul, and a band of Soliders, who played some very pretty tunes which were afterwards returned by our own. On the Consul leaving we saluted without any accident. In the afternoon the Admiral and Suite left for the shore; after which most of the Officers went ashore, after Divine Service had been

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performed, in which the Admiral took his part.

February 23rd No sleep for mosquitoes, and nothing to eat for breakfast. In the afternoon the Flag Lieut came on board, to say a large party of ladies were coming off with the Admiral and suite to see the ship. About half past 5, between 20 and 30 came off, when dancing commenced, and I danced into my cabin; the Admiral soon got tired and very quietly sloped on shore. The party did not go on shore till after the 8 o'clock gun had fired, leaving behind a strong odour of some scent by no means agreable. At 10 a parcel of noisy devils came off, and altho' I was shut up in my cabin, it was after one o'clock on the morning of my Birthday before I could get asleep.

+ Birth day

Tuesday Febry. 24th Got up with headache and rheumatism in both legs. Before Quarters a message came off from the Admiral for our Commander to go ashore in full dress, to pay an Official visit on General Lopez, President, and after to inspect the sails. As usual in the forenoon several strangers came off. Wrote to L, and M. At 6 PM the Admiral, American Consul and an English gent came off to dinner. Afterwards Commdr and

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Flag Lieutenant went ashore for the night.

February 25th All Officers were on board exept old Ross, who came off with the Pilot at 8. Prepared for going down the River. By 9 the Steam was up and we were on the point of weighing, when General Lopez and his Staff appeared and altho' the boats were all up the Galley was lowered & sent ashore for them, and a great display made on their embarcation: they remained some time in the Commander's Cabin, and on their leaving were saluted with 9 guns, which was speedily returned from the shore, after which we weighed and went down the River. We touched several times when going over the shallow passes, but eventually we arrived safely at St Antonio about 2.30 and commenced getting in our coals and shot; which we had left behind to lighten us on our way up. The weather being very hot and the sun searching, with very hard work, I recommended an extra issue of Spirits to all except the Gun Room Officers, which was approved of by the Admiral. As the Engineers asked for theirs, two hours after getting up steam I put a stopper on it. The men worked hard till 7 PM getting the coals and shot on board. In the evening it blew fresh, with thunder and lightning.

February 26th Commenced work at 4 am

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commenced work again. Our letters did not leave till 9 this morning. The weather very hot without a breath of wind. By 2 we had got all in, and steam up, when it came on as thick as mud in a wine glass, and it was four ere we could have, coming to an anchor again at dusk.

February 27th. Away again at daylight. The Admiral complaining of a bad leg. At noon passed the Bisson a French Steamer : got on shore two or three times but easily got her off again. At 6.30 anchored.

February 28th weighed at daylight, and steamed to Tilar where we anchored at 8.30 to take in wood for fuel. Commenced loading the boats at 9. Admiral a little better. Discharged the Pilot and fired a gun for another one. By eleven we had the wood on board and made another start anchoring at 2 off Umita a strongly fortified place: we did not remain there 10 minutes, and on leaving had the Band up, and went down the River, and at 6 PM ran ashore, and remained there till 11 when we got her off. No Saturday night.

Sunday March 1st At Corrientes. At 6 weighed and went down the River, anchoring at Corrientes a little after 7. The weather extremely hot. At 10.30 went to Divisions, inspected decks, and performed Divine Service. After dinner gave liberty to the men till 8. In the afternoon invitations came off to all the Officers for a Bal Masqué, and at 9

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several of them went, and I went to bed.

March 2nd At 8.30 shortned in cable, when a whole lot of fellows came on board, among them my old friend the German Doctor. I fired a gun and hoisted the Blue Peter. One of the Bandmen on shore and the Corporal in chase of him., he however came off without finding him, when we weighed and went on our course. A little before dusk we came to one of the shoal passes and anchored for the night, when the mosquitoes came off in clouds.

Birth Day 3rd At 6.30 weighed and went on: at 8 passed Bella Vista. At noon passed a schooner going down the River. Shortly after sunset came to an anchor, close to the shore, when the mosquitoes came off in such myriads, that it was impossible to have any rest either on deck or below. I tried a pipe, I might just as well have whittled: I had taken the precaution to close my door & window so that when I went into my cabin at 11 PM I could only hear the buzz of one, but the heat was terrible. Slept well, till I heard them getting steam up, where I turned out at 5.30 and as soon as I opened my cabin door a regular rush was made in and I found some difficulty in shaving from the myriads of stingers.

March 4th At daylight commenced work, and before six we were steaming down the river for Parana: at sunset came to fair anchor.

March 5th Weighed at daylight, and by eight AM