8 July 1859

July 8. Saw two sharks. Subscription for games which was competed for by the sailors and cockfighting, picking potatoes, ducking for money etc.

Campbell, Alexander. Letters and papers, 1859 - 1870. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 50.

8th. A fine morning but a head wind but some of us are glad of a wind from any quarter to moderate the heat of this oppressive climate. A large number of flying fish were seen very near us and some young porpuses came under the fore bows of the ship. Some attempt was made to harpoon them and it is said that one was struck but not deep enough to hold it. By fine moonlight tonight a sail appeared at about a mile distance. Here although hot weather and day and night nearly equal, the moon and stars shine as bright as if it was winter. Four particular stars invisible in England have just come to view. Their appearance is nearly in the shape of a diamond and are called the Southern Cross. These appear in the lower part of the Southern Hemisphere.

Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56.

1 July 1859

July 1. Very calm and HOT. Umbrella useful. Two boats filled with passengers - they pulled out about a mile from the ship and the greater part of them bathed. Saw frequently large shoals of immense porpoises which jumped in groups several feet above the surface and played all sorts of tricks.

Campbell, Alexander. Letters and papers, 1859 - 1870. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 50

July 1st. The morning was fine but no wind. Here we are between the tropics and equator with the sun nearly directly above our heads. The heat is oppressive. You will think when I tell you that it melted the pitch out of the decks in some places. As we were nearly at a standstill the boats were lowered and a few passengers with sailors rowed off a mile or two where some of them bathed and then retuned all safe back again bringing with them what is called Portugese man of war. It is nearly like a blue coloured bladder but they tell me that they have a splendid appearance as they sail erect on the water and a number of small fishes attend them called pilot fish. Several very large flag fish appeared close to our stern about noon. One of the boats went off with the captain and a few gents who rowed round the ship to view her majestic appearance as she waited with spread sails for the salubrious breeze which bore us slowly on towards night.

Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56