LINGDALE HISTORY 3

We went aboard the Ship Hydrabad, 23rd November 1877 at Plymouth. Sailed Sunday 25th November.

26th fine weather.

Tuesday 27th stormy, a heavy sea running. One death on board, deceased was a young child belonging to one of the Emigrants, it was buried at sea.

The following Wednesday, 28th, a fair wind.

29th, two sails carried away. We are approaching the Bay of Biscay. A perfect gale Friday, very stormy the sea rolling mountains high.

Saturday December 1st, we set sail with a moderate breeze on our proper course after being tossed about on the Bay of Biscay at the mercy of mountains of waves for which the Bay of Biscay is famed, accompanied with a gale of such force that we could not set any canvas but was carried away in ribbons.

Sunday, 2nd December another death on board, deceased was a child, 12 months of age and belonging to the Capt. Of our ship. It was buried the same day.

Monday, December 3rd, weather calm and mild but still we are fast, leaving the cold weather of the North behind us and now the fair sex is beginning to make their appearance on deck for the first time since we started. They must have had a bad time of it as all of them were sea-sick, by their appearance they are not quite themselves, yet their empty stomachs had told slightly upon their strength with the exception of that organ which appears to be as vigorous as ever (seldom fails them) and may safely be considered next to perpetual motion. But I can see from a distance that they are so much recruited as to be able to look after their own private matters without the assistance which they previously so much required. Now I leave our weaker friends to themselves, which I hope they will be capable of doing, until they reach their new abode.

Tuesday 4th December, weather beautiful with a fine balmy breeze. Our gallant ship the Hydrabad of London, which is a full rigger vessel of 1350 tons, register is almost under full canvass today and gliding along to the tune of 7 knots per hour.

Wednesday, 5th December, we have got a fine breeze today, our ship is going through the water at the rate of 8 knots per hour. We are now one thousand miles on our journey. All the single men are in good health and very cheery. There are a few musicians and some fine singers among us. We are to have a concert tomorrow night on the quarter deck under the patronage of the Captain, Doctor and Officers of our ship, a good evening’s enjoyment, providing the weather is favourable. The Far hatch is the part allotted for the single men, we number 120, we are formed into messes of 8 in each mess, one acts as Captain of the mess, his duty is to fetch everything from ship’s Steward and to see it is properly served and in his mess, the rest take their turn in washing dishes and such aboard, The married peoples quarters is the main or centre hatch, the single women are in the after hatch under the care of a matron. They are not allowed to have any intercourse with the rest of the Immigrants. I have no doubt that they have, but is rather them and their sweet hearts as there is a good few on board.

Thursday December 6th, we are going through the water slowly, very high wind and rather foggy, but mild and pleasant.

Friday December 7th, weather, fair wind and sailing at moderate speed, our concert took place last night and was a decided success. We are to have one occasionally during our voyage and I have no doubt but our next will far surpass our first entertainment.

Saturday 8th, 77, we are going swiftly on our onward course. We passed Madeira at ½ past pm so we did not see it as it was dark. We have not seen land since we left the beautiful shores of Cornwall and won’t I suppose until we reach our new abode. The Boatswain says we shall be so far out at sea to sight the Cape, I may mention that is four of us does duty every night as watchman in our hatch each man does two hours at a time. Commencing at 10pm which is our hour to retire to rest so we have a watch over us while we are asleep. I suppose it is in case of fire or any sudden sickness taking place. He as to go on deck and report to the officer on deck every half hour so you see we are well look after apparently we are much though of when they pay so much attention to our well being and there is also twenty young selected to form a fire brigade. They drill every Saturday their chief object was to instruct them in the working of the hose and in case of fire but we hope their services won’t be required.

Sunday 9th December was on of the finest days we have had since we started. It resembled a Sunday in the latter end of July at home, light and warm with a slight breeze. We are not making much headway, we had dinner served at mid-day on the quarter deck. Our Parson was the Surgn. Superintendent he read the prayers and a few passages from scriptures and some hymns were sung which our day’s duration. It was better kept than the previous one for there was no service on that day but instead we had an undesirable form of game from the sons of Erin in the shape of fiddling and dancing which met the disapprobation of all the English and Scotch. They were loudly hissed by us but notwithstanding they continued their disgraceful conduct for a considerable time. There was also some card playing which we soon put a stop to and we are fully determined to put a stop to Sunday fiddling if there would be a refutition for we are the majority so they must accord to our dictation. There is 82 English, 12 Scotch, 30 Irish. The latter are all gathered in a corner by themselves, although in the same hatch as us.

Monday, 10th December, weather fine with fair wind with a few light showers of rain, during the day we sighted one of the Café de Verdi Islands at mid-day it is called San Antonia, famed for fruit, it belongs to Portugal is literally the last glimpse we shall get of land for some weeks to come.

Tuesday 11 December we are running right before the wind with every stitch of canvas set we are going rapidly through the water, our course is south west and will be I suppose until we reach the Cape, we are now in the tropics the heat is increasing, I only wear a single shirt and I can walk about the deck now without coat or vest so that will give you an idea of the weather we enjoy.

Wednesday 12 December a fair wind but very hot.

Thursday 13 December we are now into the trade winds which is favourable to us and will continue so until we reach the Line which we expect to do if all is well in about six days.

Friday 14 December the weather is a little ruffer today there is a heavier sea running and the wind a shade stronger but still we are making good headway. Last week we shortened our journey by 1250 miles so if we do so will this week we shall have no reason to complain. Today there was a young man put in irons and kept in confinement for six hours for a very palry fault, his sister is among the single girls and she being unwell for some time back, he took upon himself to go abaft and see her without getting permission from the Doctor of the ship. Even their parents are not allowed to visit them only at stated times, namely every Sabbath evening for the short space of half an hour, they are permitted to converse on the poop of the ship, so that must serve them for a week. Tonight we had rather a curious treat from the sailors in the shape of a procession concluding with a strange ceremony which caused a deal of mirth to all on board, the sailors turned out very neatly one mounted on a fine horse rode in front. The sailors followed two and two in turns carrying lanterns and singing songs suitable for the occasion marching slowly around the deck or after part of the ship, the horse prancing about for some time causing great laughter. The horse was made by the sailors from old canvasses and very skilfully put together as it was a splendid imitation. This sea ceremony is termed bearing the dead horse so our evening entertainment concluded as follows the man and horse was hustled to the main yard area, the man still on the horse as it would appear but of course he was holding the horse between his legs and bearing is own weight with his hands while hustled 40 feet and dangling in the air holding on by a single rope above the water for 8 or 10 minutes. Within 2 or 3 feet of the yard area there was 2 sailors sitting on the yard arm with blazing torches in their hand of many colours waiting for the horse, as soon as the man and horse approached they fired a couple of pistols and the dead horse dropped into the see with three ringing cheers from all on board, they then assembled on the quarter deck getting a fair sum of money from the immigrants, one Sovereign from the Capt. And 3 bottles of brandy from the Capt. Thy them formed two deep, and marched to their quarters singing a merry song as they went along, so ended the ceremony of bearing the dead horse, the meaning of all the performance is the seamen get a month’s advance of pay when they join the ship, which they generally spend before they sail and then the first month they are working the dead horse as they call it so bearing the dead horse took place the last night of their first month.

Saturday 15th December we had a death on board, deceased was a child 8 months old belonging to an immigrant and buried the same evening.

Sunday 16 December we had divine service as usual today, weather is beautiful but the heat is getting rather oppressive. We are beginning to look for all the cool corners we can find but they are few and far between.

Monday 17 December we are almost becalmed, very sultry and warm. The majority of us go about in our shirt and pants and if it had not been for the sake of decency we could do without that part of our garment also.

Tuesday 18th December we have got a little more wind today, we are making about 4 knots and hour. There are a great many flying fish here in the Tropics which give us some amusement watching them sweeping along the surface of the water. They fly from one to two hundred yards, the largest of them are about the size of a mackerel. Two of them flew aboard our ship and parties who found them are trying to preserve them.

Wednesday 19th December we have got fine weather and sailing at the rate of 8 knots per hour, I suppose we are close on the Line as we had a visit from King Neptune of the Seas and a Majestic looking Gentleman he is, as he was represented by one of the tallest of the sailors on our ship, he made his appearance on the forcastle deck with all the emblems of Royalty wearing a crown and holding a sceptre in his hands accompanied by a numerous retinue, holding in their hands blazing torches setting forth a flame of blue illuminating the whole of the fore part of the vessel giving a striking appearance to our Royal visitor. His Majesty hailed our ship by asking several questions with a loud voice such as “what ship”, “what’s her cargo” is there any passengers on board” and these questions bring answers to his satisfaction he gave us a pass into his dominion, promising to pay us another visit in his own great Oceon empire which is on the south side of the line, he then took his departure, he was ……. by a barrel being lowered into the water filled with combustibles and set on fire, thus the King left in his fiery chariot going at the speed of 8 knots an hour, we could see his chariot blazing away until it disappeared in the distance. This took place at ½ past 7pm.

Thursday 20th December we have a fresh breeze today and our ship is going ahead more rapid than yesterday, our general complaint is too much heat for myself I divest myself of my shirt after I got to bed and only use a single sheet which serves me for blankets and still I feel rather warm during the night. King Neptune kept his promise as we had another visit from him about 1pm today, we would be then about 150 miles into his territory as we entered it about 11.30pm the previous night. His Majesty had a double object in his record visit mainly to welcome those that were in his dominion before and to compel them that were not to do him homage, this ceremony was not considered pleasant as some were very reluctant in going through it and others had been compelled by force to submit to this ceremony which was as follows. There were a large pond formed on the quarter deck about 8 yards long about the same in breadth and four feet deep this was formed of sailcloth with a platform in front this being finished there was a procession, King Neptune taking the lead, he was raised on a throne which was on wheels drawn by 6 monsters of the deep and a body guard of plaice. The uniforms of his attendants I will not attempt to describe, but I have got no doubt if they were to meet you in a solitary road at midnight they would surprise you, it astonished me how the sailors got every thing so completely arranged it must have given them a great labour as well as scheming. Now as the procession went along from the forcastle to the quarter deck, where the was their appearance causing great laughter nearly putting some of the onlookers into hysterics, then the ceremony of doing homage to our Royal visitor began. His Majesty seated on his throne apparently enjoying the scene which was gone through in a professional manner, the names of those who were not on this side of the Line before were called in rotation, They were then seated on a high shoot in front of the pond soaped and shaved and them tumbled backward off the shoot into the pond
where they receive a rough handling from four who were in the pond ready to receive them, but the shaving caused most amusement owing to the dimension of the razors and the enormous amount of soap used. The razors were made of wood, the blade eighteen inches long with a soap brush to match and a large bucket of soap and water, it was laughable to see some of them soaped all over the face and head with this huge brush, none of the onlookers could refrain from showing their ivorys and them that had non to show, their gumbs. When the shaving and plunging were over, which occupied more than an hour and a half the remainder of the day was spent in athletic sports such as racing, sack racing, climbing the greasy pole, concluding with a concert, all the old time customs are strictly adhered to by our Tars, who are a jolly lot of fellows, they assist in all entertainment for our enjoyment.

Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd, Sunday 23rd December, weather fine, sailing very steady although not making much headway.

Monday 24th December, we had good deal of amusement, there were a concert held on a larger scale than usual it being Christmas Eve, the singers did their parts very well.

Tuesday 25th December, was Christmas Day and was a dull one to almost all of the Immigrants, for Christmas is one of the merriest days kept in old England and I am sure this is one of the quietest every spent by the majority of persons aboard our ship.

Wednesday 26th December, beautiful weather, very light winds, we are going ahead very smoothly but not making so much progress as we would desire. About 11am we saw a ship in sight right ahead of us, as we were fast making up to her we supposed she was lying low as we got a little nearer we could see that we were right in our supposition she was an American Whaler with a dead whale in tow, we gave them a cheer which they returned, she passed us about 2 hundred yards ap.

Thursday 27th, Friday 28th, December we are lying becalmed and the heat is very oppressive as we are right under the sun, when we stand erect we cannot see our own shadows so you may imagine the heat we have got.

Saturday 29th December, we are making a little headway today but not so much as we would wish for, the further South we get it will be getting cooler.

Sunday 30th December, we had no divine service today, there is a lot of rain falling which makes things more disagreeable for us as we cannot remain on deck and it is rather warm below, we are almost becalmed which makes us rather discontented as we are anxious to get to our destination.

Monday 31st December, we have got a fine breeze today we are making about 8½ knots a hour, there was a death on board today, deceased, an immigrant’s child, 2 years old, it was buried this evening. This makes the fourth death since we sailed. When a death takes place the ship’s carpenter is immediately informed of the occurrence, he begins to make a coffin with all possible speed. It is made of strong rough boards nailed together with about fifteen holes bored in it so as to let in the water. It is lined with a sail cloth and there is also some old iron or lead put into it to make it sink, as soon as this is done, the lifeless body is put into it, the lid nailed down and then carried on to the poop. A short service is read it is then slipped overboard. Everything is done in haste and no time lost.

Tuesday January 1st, 1878. Today is New Year’s Day and one of the quietest ever spent by me for we have nothing to make it otherwise. There was very little notice took of it and everything went on as usual, only we have a strong breeze of wind and going at the rate of 10 or 11 knots a hour but about noon there was a sudden change, the wind got shifting about and blowing in strong gust not continuing in the same quarter ten minutes so we could not sail in any direction for about an hour, one of those contrary gusts carried away on of our mainsail booms at the same having a large brake in one of the topsails, although it is shadier now, it is almost ahead so we are not making much way.

Wednesday 2nd January, Thursday 3rd January and Friday 4th, we had a strong breeze with a heavy sea running it was rather difficult for us to walk on deck as our vessel was listed too much, towards morning they shortened sail as the wind was increasing which it generally does, after sunset the weather is getting a little cooler now and will be the farther south we go as the sun is north of us, I like it to remain as it is at present as it is neither hot nor cold, we have seen a number of birds today that’s not met with north of the line, some of them are about the size of a swallow it is wonderful how they get their living sweeping along the surface of the water a thousand miles from land for we never see them picking anything up, although we watch them for a considerable time, the most startling bird I have seen is the Albatross it is larger than a common house goose its body is white, dark grey wings which is from 8 to 10 feet from tip to tip when expanded.

Saturday 5th January we are getting a fine sailing breeze, we are still going southwards although we are past the Cape of Good Hope and continue to do until we get into the trade winds and then we shall shift our course direct for Adelaide.

Sunday 6th January we had divine service as usual and every thing going on as smoothly as can be expected.

Monday 7th January we are going at the rate of 8 knots per hour, the water is fine and smooth so our ship is gliding along as steady as we could wish for myself I enjoy as good a night’s rest as I should on shore after a hard day’s work and I believe the majority of my shipmates enjoy their nap as well as I do, although the hardest part of our work is eating and drinking, smoking you would think us a rum lot of fellows if you could see us in our cabin seated round our tables which is twelve in number 10 or twelve of us at each, some reading, others playing at cards, some playing concertinas, flutes, tin whistles, banjos, fiddles, tambourines, others dancing, some singing, some talking and others whistling and seldom two playing the same air or tune at the same time.

Tuesday January 8th, we are sailing our proper course with a nice breeze, we are making 10½ knots per hour.

Wednesday 9th January, we have a cold drizzling rain today but not much wind so we are not making great progress.

Thursday 10th January, we had another funeral this morning, deceased was a child one year and ten months old and belonged to an immigrant which makes five deaths among the young ones since we left. We are getting along at the rate of 7 knots per hour today.

Friday 11th January, we have got a fine breeze today, we are making 12 knots a hour which is the quickest sailing since we started. We had an accident today which might have proved fatal, our second mate was engaged in cleaning his revolver when one of the chambers which was loaded unexpectedly snapped the charge injuring his wrist and arm. We have daylight from 4am until 9pm which is rather strange to most of us in the beginning of January.

Saturday January 12th, we are making good headway we are making from 12½ to 13 knots per hour, we are now in the Indian Ocean.

Sunday 13th January there is a very heavy sea today and a strong wind, our ship is rolling a good deal which makes it rather difficult for us to walk or even to stand on deck. A good many got ugly falls and some got well drenched by the seas she shipped. We had another death today, deceased young child it was buried this evening.

Monday 14th January it is not near so rough today we are sailing along with all our sails set and going at the rate of 11 knots per hour.

Tuesday 15th, a fine sailing breeze.

Wednesday 16th, we are sailing at the rate of 13½ knots per hour but the wind id increasing so they are beginning to shorten sail.

Thursday 17th, at midnight last night we had a perfect gale, we got one of our topsails carried away, today the ship id rolling so that to keep our feet we are obliged to hold on, the se id running mountains high, it is also very cold we are also obliged to keep below much against our inclination, but as there is no smoking allowed below we are obliged to go on deck.

Friday 18th, the sea is still very rough our ship is rocking heavily and instead of rocking us to sleep last night it had the opposite effect, for everything that was not a fixture was thrown from one side of the ship to the other. It was impossible to sleep as the thing made such a noise to put us in mind that we are still on the sea.

Saturday 19th, the weather is milder today, but we are not making much progress.

Sunday 20th, Monday 21st, Tuesday 22nd January, we have hade a fine moderate breeze sailing at 8 knots per hour, we have not seen a vessel for the last month.

Wednesday 23 January, we have a strong gale today, the sea is running mountains high we are tossed about so much that it is with difficulty we can do anything, it is not an easy task to partake of our meals for we run the risk of getting burnt as the dishes keep slipping from side to side of our tables scattering their contents in all directions.

Thursday 24th, we have got a fine breeze today sailing 12 knots per hour.

Friday 25th, Saturday 26th, we have a fine sailing breeze although it is rather cold we are going at the rate of 13 per hour, most of us are getting tired of a seafaring life and are longing to get to the end of our journey. There is nothing to take up our attention. We see the same faces and it is the same thing over and over again for days and weeks, we are in a sense shut out from the world for we do not know what is going on in it.

Sunday 27 January, there was another death among the one one today, deceased is a child 9 months old, an immigrant’s which makes 7 since we sailed. We have not much wind today going 3 ½ knots per hour.

Monday 28th, we have a cold drizzling rain today with a stiff breeze and a thick fog.

Tuesday 29th, it is very wet and foggy but we shall soon be in the warmer weather, going 9 knots per hour.

Wednesday 30th, the weather is much the same as yesterday but more wind so we are going on more. Afraid there was a serious accident today to a young man, he and a few more of his companions were skylarking and amusing themselves by chasing one another, he accidentally put his foot down an iron pipe tearing the calf of his leg almost to the bone, it had to be sewn up by the Doctor. What makes it more unfortunate, his brother is only newly up after being confined to bed for some weeks, so neither of them will be in a condition to do anything for themselves when they arrive as we are not far distant from Adelaide. We have had no infectious disease on board since we started from Plymouth.

Thursday 31st, we have a smart breeze with an occasional shower of rain. We are going 11 knots per hour.

Friday February 1st, we are running right before the wind with every bit of canvas set and going at the rate of 11 knots per hour. Today is one of the finest days we have had for some time. 4pm we had a birth, the mother and child is doing well.

Saturday 2nd, we have a beautiful day but not much wind so we are not making over 7 ½ knots per hour. We made 234 miles, the last 24 hours, by order of the Captain the distance we are from Cape Borda is to be marked on a black board every day at twelve so we can make a guess of the distance for the rest of our journey. I see by it today that we have 1900 miles to sail before we reach Cape Borda which is the first Australian land we shall see and that we shall have 70 miles more to Port Adelaide, Most of us were disappointed as we supposed the distance to be a lot less and a good many are rather doubtful about the information so kindly given by the Captain. There were all kinds of rumours in circulation for the last few days that we did not know who or what to believe. Some think that the marking on the board a hoax but I am under the impression that it is the most correct information that we have yet received.

Sunday 3rd, we have a light wind today going 6 knots per hour.

Monday 4th, we have very disagreeable weather today, going 10 knots per hour.

Tuesday 5th, it is quite a change of weather. There is not any wind, scarcely we would be well rationed with half what we had yesterday. The weather is very unsteady in this quarter it is either blowing all one day and scarcely any the other.

Wednesday 6th, Thursday 7th, we have been sailing at the rate of 8 knots per hour on an average the weather is getting a lot milder now, we are verging on the Australian climate, we shall know a difference in the weather as every day adds a degree or two to its mildness, we have got to go 950 miles before we sight land.

Friday 8th, we are making little progress for the light winds we have got is almost ahead we are going about 5 knots per hour. There are a great many whales about here we have seen scores blowing clouds of water to a height of 20 feet in the air. They and porpoises are the only inhabitants visible to us in this great expanse of water. I see that the sea fowl are not inclined to follow us any further. I believe they have followed us from the Cape which is several thousands miles behind us as the have disappeared.

Saturday 9th, today’s sailing is much the same as yesterday so we shall have a long passage if there is not more wind shortly. We are to have our farewell concert tonight there is also to be a Christy Minstrels entertainment, it is the best we have had since we have been on board.

Tuesday 12, we are becalmed today and the sea is the colour of Indigo blue, it is getting warmer every day. We had little amusement today. There was a competition between us and lifeboats crew, the front and starboard boats, the port one belongs to the first mate, the starboard one to the second, it was to try their efficiency. A man jumped over the stern and swam about 400 yards off shore, they carry a man over board and the crew of each boat run to their boats put on their cork jackets and lower the boats and row away and the one that got to the man first gets the prize, the starboard boat won each time they tried, the Doctor shot an albatross which measured 11 feet from the tip of one wing to the other.

Wednesday 13th, a little wind going 5 knots to an hour, a child died this morning.

Thursday 14th, we have got a splendid wind, we are making 12 knots a hour. At midday every one was anxious watching to see the board marked which was done about ½ past twelve, shewing that we were only 50 miles from Cape Borda which is the nearest point of Thangros Island. We were only glad to sight land.

Friday 15th, early this morning we saw land plain, a flat looking land. We have got a fine wind and we expect to anchor within a few miles of Port Adelaide were we shall have to remain until the medical officer of health comes on board.

Saturday 16th, today we had some of the Government Officials aboard. They seemed well pleased with us and told us there was plenty of work for us and good pay. We are preparing for Port Adelaide.

Sunday 16th, we are being towed in today and are going on shore.


End of my Diary, kept during a voyage to South Australia in the Ship Hydrabad of London.


( Not signed as the author was unable to write?)