William B. Hadden diary, 1865. (Travel Diaries and Journals)

William B. Hadden diary, 1865.

UPenn Ms. Codex 1819

Hadden was from Benholm, Kincardineshire, Scotland. He held the rank of segeant in a regiment and was stationed in East India for twelve years. Hadden probably served in the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment also known as the Black Watch. In the 1860s the Black Watch was stationed at Dagshai in the Himalayas and Bengal, East India. The journal by William B. Hadden was written during Hadden's three-month voyage from India to England on board the ship Gosforth during the month from April 3 to July 31, 1865. Above his first entry on April 3, 1865 Hadden wrote "Passage from India to England." Hadden noted the ship was overcrowded due to the number of soldiers leaving India. Hadden recorded his experiences on board, daily life, and passing time. He was returning to England after a twelve-year absence. In the journal he reminisced of his boyhood in Benholm, Kincardineshire, Scotland. Hadden recorded sailing conditions, passing ships, daily rations, laundry day, and his assignments of guard duty. He provided descriptions of amusements and distractions on board the ship including watching flying fish, porpoises, and whales; playing games of cards and dice; and reading, writing, and sketching. Hadden also wrote of his conversations on board, his dreams, and his writing case. He noted a man who jumped overboard, a widow pursuing his company, and a punishment at sea. Reading the volume from back to front is a fictional story with the heading Adventures amongst the Himalayan Mountains. The tale involves Hadden and a fellow soldier in pursuit of two young Indian women. The account describes altercations with the family of the girls and the consequences of the forbidden romance. Also included in the volume are fifteen drawings in colored pencil of sites including Dagshai, Baghdad, and the Cape of Good Hope. One drawing is labeled "Harvest House. Of all Scotland." There are also a few poems, a table longitude and latitude by place, and a list of words in Urdu with English translation are included in the volume.

Pages

Complete

p. 16

that growed and [?] dash against her sides which makes her tremble from side to side. I think of the once happy home + the once fond friends, of the once flowery groves, + of the once pleasant hourse I have spent amongst them, I am aproching there, but knows not if I will find a friend, a home, to [repose?] to, I have lift friend [welth?], + going seea [?] to find the land of my Nativity.

[Illegible?] it has a very diffrent from what is in My Memory at home in [[Europe]], it is fearfuly stormy. 2 Ships in sight, but [narry?] clouds. soon enough to them + they were hide from our from our view. they appearently were going in an opposite from us, the [?] lightning was very plentifull

2nd very fine day the best this fortnight, + a splended wind [runing?] along at the rate of 9 or 10 notes per hour, every one please to see us dashing along although the wave was at times dashing over the bulworks + weating all around [illegible?] which [?] although to all who sead it I cannot healp thinking about [?] and the chat I hads

Last edit over 3 years ago by bweb

Indexed

p. 17

with Miss Neptune, how [illegible?] her word to me as regards keeping her word to watch + keep me safe from danger for many a [illegible?] [pass?] our ship on all sides so it is plain that Some Angle has appered + give some consolation, I have been taken care of by some unseen hand in all my [travels?], and in every danger I have confronted, that hand must have been the hand of God. + to him I entirely give any self to his guidance + and protection, I do, not [illegible?] his Mercies, but he is generous + kind + I through his help have an assurance of reaching my [illegible] safety where I cane explain all his wondrous works I have seen both, by sea + by land, but although I were involved in company + friends I shall [illegible?] remember my fond friends in India service [illegible?] + some who lie under the green [illegible?], where the hand of Nature [illegible?] them [illegible?], had my [illegible?] it pleased him to take [illegible]

3rd Very nice wether today, + a good wind, every one seems [glad?] + well pleased at the progrese our ship is making, every sail is histed, + full with wind the Sun shining [illegible?] but [illegible?] so -

Last edit about 3 years ago by bweb

Indexed

p. 18

Lat Longde

[?] Island of Rodrigue lies in 19o-41'-o". 63-201-0"

[?] Island lies in 20-9-0. 75-28-41

Cape of Good Hope lies in 34-[illegible?]-24

[St Helena?] lies in 15-54-48. 5-45-20

[?] lies in 36-6-20. 5-20-53

Cape St. [?] lies in 37-2 54. 9-0-54

Calcutta lies in 22-34-38. 88-21-12

Bombay lies in 15-55-48. 72-52-54

[?] near Kurrachee lies in 22-24-0. 70-56-30

Last edit about 3 years ago by bweb

Complete

p. 19

[Drawing of buildings with plants and flowers in foreground].

Last edit about 3 years ago by bweb

Indexed

p. 20

hurtfull as the Indian Sun, the weather is now beginning to smell a little of the British climate, the atmosphere is quite clear + the horrison [?] presents some lovly sights at daybrake, + twilight, there is some comfort after all in our floating dwelling, but few can [reailish?] it, for it is but resonable for one to think, that [2?] Months, the time it takes one to pass over 10,000 miles of water must be very lonsome, especly to one who has been away from his home 11 or 12 years, + is returning in hopes to meet his fond friends at his return.

4th Another Splendid 24 Hours sailing, every day brings us nearer our destination, it pleases providance to to send us a pleasing passage, so we ought to be contented, + give thanks for his goodness-

The 3rd we sailed 193 Miles, the 4th we sailed 210 Miles. we passed the Island Rodrigue About 10 o'c P.M. every one glad to see land. we also passed a Ship about 9. o.c P.M. but could not see her plain, as the moon was [illegible?] cloud. the Island we passed we could not tell whether it was inhabited or not, but it had the appearance to be about 20 Miles long + about 10 or twelve

Last edit about 3 years ago by bweb

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