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.