Day 344. Flying fish and salt horse: a seafaring tale
9th July 1860:
Monday 9th. The gale is still raging with all its fury and madness, pitching the ship about like a mere Bubble. No one can form any idea of a Gale of Wind, except those that have been in one. The ship tossing, timbers creaking and every thing in the utmost confusion. In the aft deck, or fore Cabin, the place of my abode, it is quite usual to see two or three of us rolling to the lee side of the house with our tea on top of us, pots, pannakins, Beef and Lamp oil, also old boots, shoes and biscuits all get a passage down to leeward and there they meet in one grand mess. Again at this delightful time the Steward (alias duff Egg) made his
made his appearance on deck to get some water, he got as far as the mainmast and succeeded in getting his water, but the ship being quick at rolling and he not quick enough in watching her, away he goes head over heels to pay another visit to the scuppers where he had a first rate bath, and made more noise with splashing, shouting and groaning, then 16 Magpies and half a dozen Coffie Mills would make. The ship having steadyed a little, he regained his footing and waddles away to his den, leaving the bucket to take care of itself. I pitied the poor fellow but could not help laughing, and the Capt being on the Poop, and seeing him in such a predicament, laughed immoderately. At 12 M the wind had gradually abated to a nice all sail breeze, at 4 PM, rather squally again. I have observed for the last two or three days
enormous flocks of small Ice Birds, as far are the eye could reach across the vast ocean. We are tripping along towards the line, and making the weather great deal warmer every day. the London Girls having got hold of the tow line and cannot haul the slack in.
At 8 PM Sails and I observed a Comet on our Port quarter, bearing about E by S. 9 PM. Set the main Royal, it being my job to loose it. away I went and soon had that accomplished, and the hands on deck had it set by the time that I got down on deck again, it being a pretty good trip up to it and down again. Talk about paying a penny to go in a swing boat at Boston Fair, those that have been on a main royal or skysail yard when the ship is pitching and rolling about like a bull in a fair, save swing boat money anyhow, if nothing else. had a fine night and at 4 AM on -