Monday Feb 23rd Tarred down the rigging and overhauled all the lofty gear.
Tuesday Feb 24th Same as Monday
Wednesday Feb 25th Passed a homeward bound Italian barque. Captain signalled to her to report us at home �all well� that we were bound to Sydney. �Thanks much obliged�. Then we dipped the ensign and parted. She could not stop to take letters as she wished to avail herself of the favourable wind then blowing. We had no time to signal as she was nearly out of range of the flags, going along at a rate of about 10 knots an hour.
Thursday Feb 26th Saw two whalers bound for St. Helena with a cargo of whale flesh.
Friday Feb 27th Nothing happened of any importance except that we are out of the tropics, being 24 degrees south of the line.
Saturday Feb 28th Have had a splendid run going at an average of 10 knots an hour. Latitude = 26� 44�.
Sunday 1st March Had Divine Service as usual with a sermon for a change. Beautiful day & fair wind
Monday 2nd Becalmed and very hot in fact one of the hottest days we have had. Latitude 30� 30�, Longitude 23� 42� West.
Tuesday 3rd Still becalmed, but cloudy sky denoting rough weather. Only made 27 miles south since yesterday. Latitude 30� 30�, Longitude 22� 15� West.
Wednesday 4th March Fine during the morning but fair breeze Increased wind during the afternoon. By 7 p.m. we were running at 13� knots an hour. Came on squally during the evening with a tremendous sea running. Waves as big as mountains. Decks constantly under water. Oilskins & sea-boots wanted once more. At � past 9 we had to shorten sail taking in our royals and furling the crossjack & cleaving up the main & foresails. Whilst brailing up the spanker the 1st mate was unfastening the foot rope when the iron block attached thereto swung round bashing his forehead in and crushing his hands almost to a jelly. He fell down insensible and had to be carried below where his wounds were dressed. It is a fearfully rough night, the decks being almost perpendicular.
Thursday March 5th Favourable account of the 1st mate, progressing favourably. Very squally day indeed, but running well on our course at 16 knots an hour.
Friday March 6th Very rough weather. Captain called me down into his cabin to do some writing for him, making out a Ship�s Book.
Saturday March 7th Still doing writing (alias acting �Captains Secretary). Finished my work by 3 p.m. Went to the helm until 4 p.m. a grander sight I never saw. The sea was simply terrific grand & majestic. Very strong breeze and fair.
Sunday March 8th No divine service today, it being too rough and too many seas aboard. Tonight some mischievous fellow forr�ard cut the canvas down from the sheep pen, which prevented the seas from swamping the pen & drowning the sheep. He also opened the pig�s pen and turned out all the pigs. About 11p.m. one pig was found in the lee scuppers in 4 ft of water and very nearly drowned. Mussell (an apprentice) dragged him out and put him in the pen where after the 1st mate forced some brandy down it�s throat and a hot brown meal mash it gradually recovered. All the other pigs were driven in all more or less off their legs. The matter was thoroughly investigated but the result was not satisfactory, the culprit not being found out.
Monday March 9th Fine day and not such rough weather. One sheep died from the effects of the salt water and another one is very ill.
Tuesday March 10th Our 1st porker was killed today. Longitude1.8 Latitude 39.17 We are gradually nearing the cape though we shall pass it a good bit south.
Wed. March 11th Wind is very changeable. Fine weather.
Thursday March 12th Nothing worth mentioning.
Friday March 13th Very cold indeed. Albatrosses & Molly-hawks flying around.
Saturday March 14th Very near the cape. If we have a fair wind we shall round it tomorrow.
Sunday March15th Round the Cape of Good Hope at 2.45 a.m. Extremely cold weather. The thermometer is below freezing point by 10 degrees.
Monday March 16th Albatrosses & Molly-hawks are flying around together with Cape Hens and Mother Cary�s Chickens.
Tuesday March 17th Stormy Petrels have appeared on the scene. Albatrosses measuring a good 15 inches from tip to tip of their wings are flying around.
Wed March 18th A frigate bird paid us a visit today. It is a perfectly black bird very much like a Molly-hawk but bigger.
