14 February 1864

Thomas Keir diary - 14 February 1864 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]

Sunday 14th – Was up this morning at 1 AM
and although it was quite dark I saw two of
the small islands. At 4 A.M. we changed our
course and stood to the N.E. with a fine breeze
from the west. The rocks or islands were then dis
tinctly seen. Ten in number, two of them large
and of considerable height. Before 9 O’C they
were lost to the view and we were again ‘out at
sea’. With the exception of a heavy shower in the
morning the day was very fine. The longitude at

at noon was 169° east.

STANDARDISED

Sunday 14th

Was up this morning at 1am and although it was quite dark I saw two of the small islands. At 4am we changed our course and stood to the northeast with a fine breeze from the west. The rocks or islands were then distinctly seen. Ten in number, two of them large and of considerable height. Before 9 o’clock they were lost to the view and we were again ‘out at sea’. With the exception of a heavy shower in the morning the day was very fine. The longitude at noon was 169° east.

HENRY SCHOFIELD DIARY

14th fine

14th Sunday on board the Ship Mermaid. I drempt that I was racing with our Nelly in Abbydale road with my father & Mr Reeves (and about A.F. 150? months to come) Past the Snares in the night. A row last night about my hammock with Dick & Mac[1]. Dinner spice pudding & boullie. 169 deg Long 49 deg Lat, 10 Knots per hour. Reading Proverbs 20 chap.

Notes

1.”Dick” is most likely Richard Bowman, a 17 year old farm labourer from Yorkshire, previously mentioned by Schofield. “Mac” could have been a nickname for one of several passengers.