Day 333. Flying fish and salt horse: a seafaring tale
28th June 1860:
Thursday 28th. This morning we found ourselves among a whole fleet of ships. There were 14 of them besides ourselves, all laying as if at anchor, the only difference being, them having their sails set. we signalized one a Hamburg Brig from Arica with Saltpetre for Copenhagen. she was called the Syrius 49 days out. She gave us her longitude and we her ours - they were very nearly alike. Lat 4″9-3″0 S. Long 5″4-2″ W. A little breeze during the night in which the Brig passed us.
Here’s a whole flotilla of becalmed ships, bet they wish they’d invested in steam engines. Richard is pleased that their longitude readings are as good as the Germans - it shows them to be past the Falklands and heading North off the coast of Argentina.