Thomas Keir diary - 10 December 1863 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]

Thursday 10th Dec[embe]r 1863

A very pleasant day a little cloudy
with a fine breeze, abreast of the Cape
de Verde Islands, at noon in latitude 16°
saw a very good deal of flying fish during
the earlier part of the day, sporting about in
the water, they rise in flocks and skim along
the surface not unlike our [sea?] all are pursuing
the insects on the water, only that they
fly in a strait course for a short distance
and again drop into the water, sometimes in
their headlong speed they don’t clear the sur
face water, but float along the surface and
disappear in the crest of the next wave,
Last night one young man’s purse containing
about 30/- disappeared rather suspiciously.
It is very close and dry in the t’ween
decks, and when down my [?] never
dry, although we are yet a good distance
from the sun

STANDARDISED

Thursday 10th December 1863

A very pleasant day a little cloudy with a fine breeze, abreast of the Cape de Verde Islands, at noon in latitude 16°. Saw a good deal of flying fish during the earlier part of the day, sporting about in the water, they rise in flocks and skim along the surface not unlike our [sea?] all are pursuing the insects on the water, only that they fly in a straight course for a short distance and again drop into the water. Sometimes in their headlong speed they don’t clear the water, but float along the surface and disappear in the crest of the next wave. Last night one young man’s purse containing about 30/- disappeared rather suspiciously. It is very close and dry in the t’ween decks, and when down my [?] never dry, although we are yet a good distance from the sun.

HENRY SCHOFIELD DIARY

Dec 10th v fine

Commenced having more water with being in the tropics. Learning Paul to cipher on slate. Saw many flying fish. Going about 8 knots per hour. For dinner spice pudding Pork & Pea soup. Brown telling me where he had lived. Played at Blindmans Bluff & Cat & mouse.

Brown Thomas Keir