Day 355. Flying fish and salt horse: a seafaring tale
20th July 1860:
Friday 20th. The ship having broke off from her course 3 or four points, at 6 AM. Tacked to Stard we did it with the watch and equally as quick as if we had all Hands. Head by compass about N.E. the wind veered round to about S W at 8 PM when we set Topmast Stud Sail. Going about 7 knots at 8 and 12 PM. We had a nice cooling shower of rain this morning at 6 AM when I caught a tubful of water and finished washing up all my dirty clothes it being a beautiful day, they got nice and dry hanging up in the
weather rigging, it is a first rate clothes line. I now feel more contented, when they were all dirty, I used to feel as though there was something wanted doing, I often used to think I had forgot some of my duty. - Fresh water is very precious at sea, yea more precious than Gold (to a Seaman) that dross for which men will be guilty of perpetrating any crime, even to taking the Life of a fellow creature. but of what value is it at sea it will not quench the thirst or appease the hunger of a Mariner, though he might have a ship loaded with it, he would willingly give it all, for a drink of cold water, when there is none to be got. - A vessel in sight this morning 8 or 10 miles ahead. the weather is something like July at home now while last week it was like January. It being about, or rather past, sheep shearing time. the Carpenter is taking our Cape Horn fleeces off to day. he docked 6 or 7 of us, off this morning, at the
moderate charge of a pipefull of tobacco, but that is worth a good deal on board the ship now, they having consumed nearly all theirs in the cold weather, coming round the Horn. If I want anything done, I only have to give one of the men, a bit of tobacco, and they will soon do it. - We are now in Lat 27-2 S with a fair wind.