Robert Lees 1875 Diary

Oct 24th: Sighted two of the Canary Islands. Very bad headache. Sick in the evening. Schooner alongside of us nearby the whole day, but we left her behind in the afternoon. Saw a lot of stormy petrels and a very large fish, supposed to have been a whale. School commenced on board today by Mr Farvis. Had a draught of lime juice.

25th. Palmer island in view. also Tenerif mountain which appears to be covered with snow. A [kupkra] of [ajars?] to be obtained there for two shillings. This mountain is said to be 313 of feet above the level of the sea. Palmer island is a mountainous one, and the clouds seem to be considerably lower than the tops of the mountain. A noise with the messmate about some pickles which he accused me of robbing him. A report about the strife of stealing victuals from the single women. The sun is very warm today. My wife poorly. The sub matron gave me a tin of meat

26th. Sighted another island. Calm in the morning but fine breeze in the evening when several passengers got wet through the sea washing over the bulwarks. The boxes of the passenger were taken out of the hold. Very hot work for me taking the single girl's boxes to the poop - after being examined, they were taken to the hold again the same day.

27th Dull day with storms between fair wind going about twelve knots an hour. Have had me belly, filled for once. Another disturbance about the fresh water, when it was decided that the Captains of Messes should not carry water to the Cook. My wife poorly. Cook gave her a [pawakine?] of mutton broth. I made some toffee but it was not very good - not being made hard enough - Several of the passengers wish themselves back again and would not have [broken up?] their homes to endure hardships had they known the difficulties they would have to encounter. A notice posted up that the Captain of Messes would be supplied with fresh water at seven o'clock in the morning in future.

28. My wife still ill. Travelling slowly. Concert on board in the evening. The first mate save my wife a small loaf of bread. Called to the poop by the Captain about a [pudfinic?]

29th. Sunday. Had a clean shave and looked respectable. Service by Mr Farvis. Sunday [noises?] on board. Plenty to eat last day. Very fine day the Dr lanced the missus throat. Sun set magnificently. Irish young men had the pleasure of seeing their sisters & sweethearts at the poop.

30th Monday. Got my wife's victuals etc. [An] [alarm] of fire on the deck - which originated in the engine room in which the first mate andengineer had a fight. Very warm. Lime juice served out to the passsengers. Found some [lice] on our bodies.

31st. Very warm day. A disturbance about withholding rations from the s[afe]. Sighted a ship who [hoisted?] her flag and [said?] she had been on her journey 26 days from Liverpool. The [girls?] were very ill from drinking lime juice. My wife is making me a hat. [Matron taking] an account of what the girls [lose?]. Sailors jumped overboard in the sea to bathe.

November 1. Flour withheld from girls. A dolphin caught by one of the passengers. Have put down items kept from the girls. Great noises about the food given to the Emigrants. Warm day. Plum [d????] tea. Meat, Potatoes and soup all at once today. My wife made me a new hat. Pleasure on board with the young men kicking up a row and having a barrel for a drum.

2. Flying fish in the sea. Warm day. Wind in favour. My daily routine of business. My wife made a cap for [sails?]. Mr Marshall to be reported for swearing.

3. Favourable wind - about 9 miles an hour. My wife's washing day. She being much better in health. Messrs Norris and Cunningham's children died today.

4. The children were buried at half-past six a.m. Exceedingly warm day. More noises on board. A large fish was seen off the lee side. Paid for shaving. The missus finished her washing. An entertainment was given on board in the evening by the young [Irish]

5. A gale of wind send us along Sunday. Mr. Jarvis conducted service in the morning. very cloudy day. The lightning was [noisy] in the evening, which was a better sight to see than certificial fireworks. Travelling at a good speed.

6. More rough wind with a little rain. Had a tin of beef given me. Wonderful times these. The German has holiday today.

7. Enjoyed the beef - fine for breakfast. My day off today. A vessel sighting near us. Stormy day. A tremendous clap of thunder in the night was heard. an old man and his wife had a fight on deck during the storm through jealousy.

8. Miss Pratt died from heart disease at half-past five p.m. A lot of large fish near us. Stormy day.

9. Miss Pratt was buried at half past six a.m. Miss Jones died about 10 a.m. Stormy day. A shark swam around the vessel and put its nose against the vessel. The last mentioned girl was buried at half past [7]a.m. Girls gave the missus some [soft] water.

10. Sarah came down with a bulls-eye to look for one of the single girls in the evening who had trespased on forbidden grounds.The Captain explained to the menhis reason for keeping the water back from emigrants. Fine day. Going two knots an hour.

11. Beautiful breeze. five knots an hour. One of the Irish young men found in the closet with a girl. Five vessels near us, one which was homeward bound.

12. Sunday. Another child died Sunday at half past six a.m. and was buried about nine o'clock. Mr. Jarvis conducted service as usual in the morning . My day off. Good breeze blowing hard all day. trade wind. one womanfell down stairs. [ Evening] seven nots an hour.

13. Beautiful day. Crossed the line at six o'clock p.m. Good breeze. Reading etc.

14. Stormy day. A ship opposite us - very close indeed, left her behind.

15. Fine day.Splendid breeze. Sited a barque - which hoisted her colours - to which our ship replied. Going about 9 knots an hour. We were in 4"South- 30o-12 West. from 18 [north] on the 14th to 12 [noon] the 15th we sailed 786 miles.

16th Nov. Beautiful day. Going steadily. A child died early this morning and was buried quickly. Reading.

17th. Emigrants busy washing. Had to assist the girls. Splendid day but wind rather calm. Going about three nots an hour. A [Nautilus] or [nochinbies?] was caught today. A ship in view. Nine degrees South.

18th. Another fine day. In the evening a stage was erected on deck on which a theatrical play was held called "Rebel Bill" and passed off satisfactorily. Mr Norris' child died at 12 noon. This being the second child the afflicted parent has lost.

19th. Sunday. Fine day - Going at a first-class speed. Have had my belly filled today with food. Mr Jarvis conducted service morning and evening. Miss William is ill with the fever through her own negligence the doctor affirmed. A collision nearly occured between this vessel & another early this morning

20th. Mrs Read's baby died at half past-three o'clock a.m. Very well day. Going about eight nots an hour. [Noises?] amongst the emigrants.

21st. Fine day. emigrants busy washing clothes as there was a plentiful supply of soft water.

22nd. Calm day. A shark was seen in the sea.

23rd. Have to carry the girls food on the poop. the first mate being ill with fever. Nineteen and a half degrees from line today.

24th. Cloudy day. One [cloud] appears to be [green.] Rain in the afternoon.

25th. Rain all day.A disturbance with one of the mess mates about a chamber. Ship going fast. One or two taken with the fever. 24 1/2 degrees South.

26th. Sunday. Calm day. Very close. Scarcely moving. Mr. Jarvis conducted two services.

27th. The boxes were had upon deck. Calm day. A whale was seen near the ship. Plenty of food today.

28th. Beautiful day with good breeze. Seven nots an hour. Hoisting fresh canvas. A theatrical play was performed [between] decks, called "The Disobedient [Son.]" After which a troup of Amateur Minstrels, did their best to delight their fellow emigrants.

29th. Splendid breeze with rain.nine or ten nots an hour.

30th.Several albatrosses seen. A petition to re reinstate the ex-baker was about to be [served] by the Captains of Messes, but the Doctor interferring it was not proceeded with. A little boy was born on board about six o'clock this evening. Splendid breeze.

December 1. Splendid breeze. Nine or ten nots an hour. A disturbance between the schoolmaster and [me?]. Saw three calf whales together which were throwing water into the air. Another albatross near the ship. Mr Harvers' baby died.

2. Saw the baby thrown overboard. Good breeze. Ten nots an hour. More albatrosses seen. A young man named Ray fell from the [muscle?] [panker?] mast to the poop- and was seriously injured.

3 Sunday. Splendid breeze. The sea washing the ship's deck. more albatrosses. Going five nots an hour. Good winds. About four degrees South

4. Cragan's child died at half-past [five?] and another infant died ^Brown's about an hour afterwards. Breeze not quite so strong this morning. Going five miles the hour. Both children buried about eight o'clock.

5. Wild Day - Going twelve nots the hour, Stormy.

6. Good Westerly wind ^but very cold. Nine and a half nots the hour. Plenty of birds about.

7. Rather calm. About five nots. Cold wind. Women beat Johnson.

8. Northerly wind. Twelve nots the hour. Disturbance caused by Mr Riley

9. Good breeze. Eleven nots. Water washing the decks. Rough night.

10. Sunday. The ship nothing much. Good breeze. Water washing the deck. An accident happened to me condensing engine.

11. Rather foggy. About five nots an hour. Reading in the evening.

12. Good breeze. Nine or ten nots]. Showery. Row with [Jaden?] through his laziness.

13. About five nots an hour. Stormy. Cold wind. Reading.

14. Good breeze. Ten nots. Rough sea. Fight between Johnson and [???] in evening.

15. Fight between Street and Burke. Calm in the morning. Good breeze in afternoon. Twelve nots.

16. Fine day. Cragan's boy taken very ill which stopped a performance of the minstrels. Eight nots the hour.

17. Fine day. Seven nots the hour. A service in the evening by Mr Jarvis.

18.Very cloudy day and cold. Eight nots the hour. Cragan's boy was buried in the evening. which died about [half] past one. The [????????] at work.

19. Beautiful day. One German taken ill.

20. Cloudy and cold. Fair day with the Catholics.

21. Nice day. Ten nots the hour. A fight between two Irish young men.

22nd Dec. Splendid breeze. Ten or twelve nots the hour ^all day. A report of [our] being in Adelaide in fourteen days.

23rd. Good breeze. Ten nots. A Concert in the evening between decks Reading to messmates.

24th. Sunday. Miserable day for us. Water coming over the [bullwarks] all day.

25th. +mas day. Had an extra supply of flour & raisins and suet. Wet and dispicable day. The sailors refused to receive the flour and raisins which the Captain presented them with - on account of the [small] quantity. They also [handed] a tub of soup to me aft [hatch] for the Captain's inspection- accompanying the tub with [singing ], meaning insult to the skipper. The "Robert Lees' baby was christened by the doctor and Captain. Feel unwell with a sick headache. A social entertainment was held between decks - when I read twice from "John Ploughman's talk."

26th. Two or three Albatrosses caught.- Jack anderson feel overboard and was rescued. A negro entertainment in the evening. Calm day.

27th. Old Mother +mas thrown overboard. Nine or ten nots the hour. Fine day.

28th. Good breeze. Ten or twelve nots .

29th. Wet morning. Good breeze. Ten or twelve nots. Matron's room flooded with water. A Collection made for the emigrant's cook.

30th.Fine morning. Ten or twelve nots. A Collection made for Favran - the Doctor's assistant. not of much value. a social entertainment in the evening. T[re an about] Debt.

31st. Cloudy day. Eight or nine nots. Service in the evening.

January 1. At twelve midnight the sailors began ringing the ship's bells and marched round the deck with this making an awful noise which lasted for about half and hour wishing the people a Happy New Year.