5 July 1859

July 5. Weather still fine - heat intense. The nautillus common in these latitudes, to be seen around the ship: it is a small fish by some termed “Portugese Man O’War”, which swims on the surface with a little sail which it can raise or depress at pleasure.

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

5th. The weather is fine this morning but a head wind so we have to tack about right and left like an overloaded animal crossing about to get up a hill but make little progress. We sighted two sails but at a distance. Some large flag fish were seen rolling like horses.

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