![Thomas Keir diary - 21 December 1863 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/20-18631221-ViewScan_0111-k.jpg "7-18631126-ViewScan_0098-k")
Monday 21st – Blowing strong from the S.E. the
vessel going ten knots. the man was buried at
½ past 8 A.M. M[iste]r Scrimgeour[1] has joined our mess
as it was inconvenient for him to go aft, and
![Thomas Keir diary - 21 December 1863 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/21-18631221-ViewScan_0112-k.png "7-18631126-ViewScan_0098-k")
he has accordingly joined us, our mess now
consists of nine souls. The sailors are going
their round collecting for the Neptune festival
who isto make his appearance to morrow. Yester-
day being sunday, and today the funeral so it
was thought best to postpone the shaving till
tomorrow. At 8 P.M. Neptune made is appearance
and walked aft to the poop. The firy canvas
lowered on the lee bow, but the ship going so
fast throughthewater and the swell of the
sea prevented it burning and we lost the sight
STANDARDISED
Monday 21st
Blowing strong from the south east, the vessel going ten knots. The man was buried at half past 8am. Mr Scrimgeour has joined our mess as it was inconvenient for him to go aft, and he has accordingly joined us. Our mess now consists of nine souls. The sailors are going their round collecting for the Neptune festival, who is to make his appearance tomorrow. Yesterday being Sunday, and today the funeral, so it was thought best to postpone the shaving till tomorrow. At 8pm Neptune made his appearance and walked aft to the poop. The firy canvas lowered on the lee bow, but the ship going so fast through the water and the swell of the sea prevented it burning and we lost the sight [of it].
HENRY SCHOFIELD DIARY
21st v fine
Mr Grey died last night at 5 Oclock & was put overboard this morning at 8 Oclock, aged 40 years leaving a wife & 12 children. A fine day, good wind, going about 10 knots per hour. For dinner plum pudding & salt pork & pea soup & preserved potatoes. Saw flying fish and a many birds flocking. We went gathering got about 3 pounds for a spree, a basket of tar & stick set alight on fire. Last night 2 men caught in galley with a married woman.
Notes
1. Mr Scrimgeour is another passenger who doesn’t appear in the list of assisted emigrants or cabin passengers, and likely therefore to be paying full fare for his passage in steerage.
![Burial at Sea, from the Australasian Sketcher, Nov 1880 [State Library of Victoria]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1880-burial-at-sea-Australasian-Sketcher-Nov-StateLibVic-ft.jpg)
Burial at Sea, from the Australasian Sketcher, Nov 1880 [State Library of Victoria]
