Jan 20th Tuesday Sea rather rough but a splendid day; just like summer. Had a splendid breeze during the morning which died away towards the end of the afternoon. At 7 a.m. ran at 16 knots an hour.
Jan 20th Tuesday Nothing particular to recount. Fair wind.
Jan 21st Wednesday As I stood by the stern of the poop the sea was all phosphorescent. It was full of sparks and miniature flashes of lightning where the ship had disturbed the tranquillity of the ocean.
Jan 22nd Thursday A most splendid summer day; the water being as calm as a mill pond. We went at scarcely 2 knots an hour there being hardly a breath of wind.
Jan 23rd Friday Turned out my chest as it was a calm and beautiful day. Found every bit of linen at the bottom of my chest wet through. Took them out & hung them on the forecastle to dry. It was so hot that most of us middies changed our pitch suits for ducks and thin vests.
Jan 24th Met a steamer within signalling distance and reported ourselves. She did not stop to take any letters or anything. Whilst having our dinner with the third mate I thought I heard the captain call out in an excited voice �Heave him a life buoy�. I said to Mr Houghton �I believe there is a man overboard�. All at once we heard such a rushing of feet on the poop-deck above us. We all rushed out of the saloon and found that a man had tumbled overboard whilst attempting to rescue a chicken which had flown overboard. He had been let down the ships side by means of a bowline and while attempting to grab hold of the chicken the line slipped from under him. The 1st mate instantly threw a life buoy to him attached to a line. Five or six men got into the port life boat in readiness to be lowered, but as we were going only 2 knots an hour it was not needed The fellow was hoisted in over the stern regularly drenched. He said he thought he was gone (as he could not swim a bit) when he saw the ship gradually drawing away.
Jan 25th Sunday. We had Divine Service on board for the 1st time as the weather has not permitted it before The captain gave a very suitable discourse being all about naval affairs. Service was held on the quarter deck at � past 10 and was over at 11-20. We lost 5 chickens overboard.
Jan 26th We had a race with a brig which was on our starboard bow and beat her all to smash.
Jan 27th About 4 p.m. a squall arose and it was a regular tropical storm. Everyone on deck got wet through and half drowned in the lee scuppers by the heavy seas that we shipped. We were forced to be in it for an hour as it was �All hands �bout ship�, the wind being dead ahead of us. All day yesterday and today we holy stoned the poop-deck down, and had barely finished when the storm came on.
Jan 28th Wednesday The wind was still very unfavourable, and the weather rather squally.
Jan 29th Thursday At last we have got the breeze in the right direction About 9 a.m. a dead calm commenced & lasted the whole day. We saw a tremendous lot of nautili (Portuguese men of war) and with the aid of a bucket & rope we managed to catch a good many. They sting most awfully if you touch them, and one fellow from touching the bucket where the nautili had been suffered agony for over three hours. This evening was the most glorious I have ever seen in my life. On one side of the vessel the moon was shinning and a silver streak of moonlight stretched away to the horizon; while on the other side the sun was setting gloriously and a golden streak of sunlight stretched away to the horizon. The ship seemed to lay exactly between the two. A most curious phenomenon I say?.
Jan 30th Friday At last we have got into the North-east trades. That is to say we have
Jan 31st
February 1st Sunday We had Divine Service on the quarter deck.
Feb 2nd Rebent every sail
Feb 3rd Tuesday Saw a shark in the distance but did not attempt to catch it Saw some flying fish but none came aboard.
Feb 4th Wed Lost the North-east trades. A perfect calm and tremendously hot
Feb 5th Thursday Arrived in the Doldrums It is frightfully hot and no breeze to cool one.
Feb 6th Friday Had a fearful thunder storm during the night The lightning was magnificent
Feb 7th Saturday. Saw a shoal of about 200 porpoise jumping rolling & gambolling around our bows. They swam at a tremendous pace.
Feb 8th Sunday. At service today a lot of the midshipmen did not attend but went up on the bowsprit to fish The captain sent the 1st mate forward to tell them that Divine Service was just about to begin. They replied that they did not wish to attend. The captain sent forrard to tell them that he ordered them to come so they had to turn up.
Feb. 9th Monday Caught a shark by means of a bit of pork. It was only a small one, only being 2ft 8 � in length. It was preceded by 2 pilot fish. They are the prettiest fish I have seen being rings of purple and green. As soon as the shark was caught these pilot fish darted & rushed about in search of it wondering what had become of it.
