15 December 1863

STANDARDISED

Tuesday 15th – A beautiful morning but little wind, the ship going very slowly. There were a great many porpoises seen sporting about, and blowing up, the nostril is placed in the top of the head, which we distinctly saw, the march along twos and threes abreast, and sometimes leap five or six times out of the water and and fall with a great splash. They were about the ship all forenoon in great numbers and we were greatly amused with their motions, we also saw flocking “mother carey’s chickens”. It was very warm today the and truly tropical. Latitude at noon 5°11’ north. Little James has taken a bad turn today. The rest of us are all well. Engaged during the forenoon making a sea pie & looking at the porpoises, after dinner Cooks voyage to the pacific & history of the porpoise.

HENRY SCHOFIELD DIARY

Dec 15th showery

Lightening last night saw a great flock of stormy petrels and cow fish & porpoises & dolphins going about 12 knots per hour was about 300 miles from the Equator, very hot. For dinner salt beef & spice pudding, lent a book to a sailor & the Book of Fun to Hadfield & Australia to Mac playing at cards & dominoes