5 December 1863

Thomas Keir diary - 5 December 1863 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]

Saturday 5th Dec[embe]r 1863

Rather dull morning, with a
strong breeze. the ship going 11 Knots
latitude at midday 32° north
very little motion on the vessel. all
in good spirits. sat for the most
of the day on the forecastle reading
and chating with my neighbours
not a single sail in sight for the
whole day, the first day I think
we have been without seeing one
had two or three Scotch reels
before the cabin door which was kept
up for a short time with spirit
but the music was rather indifferent
9 P.M. dull with a fine breeze
some talking, some singing, some
reading and others eating. going to
prepare for bed

STANDARDISED

Saturday 5th December 1863

Rather dull morning, with a strong breeze. the ship going 11 knots. Latitude at midday 32° north. Very little motion on the vessel, all in good spirits. Sat for most of the day on the forecastle reading and chatting with my neighbours. Not a single sail in sight for the whole day, the first day I think we have been without seeing one. Had two or three Scotch reels before the cabin door which was kept up for a short time with spirit ,but the music was rather indifferent. 9pm dull with a fine breeze. Some talking, some singing, some reading and others eating. Going to prepare for bed.

HENRY SCHOFIELD DIARY

Dec 5th – dull

Tom Earnshaw commenced the captain of our mess, helped him to fetch groceries: biscuits, flour, raisins, pickles, lime juice, mustard, pepper and salt, etc. Salt beef and rice for dinner. Washed my towel. Mrs Earnshaw put a watch pocket in these trousers I got off brother James. I took two of Carthew’s[1] pills, not been very well. Went to bed after dinner. Going about 9 knots per hour. Made a spice pudding for Sunday.

Notes

1. William Carthew was another steerage passenger paying his own way. He was a 20 year old miner from Cornwall. [“Provincial Commercial Industrial”, The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District], (The Cyclopedia Company Limited, 1897); digitised publication by New Zealand Electronic Text Centre.]