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From: Kenneth Carkeet <>
Subject: Diary of an immigrant Cornishman, part 2, April edition
Date: Mon, 04 May 1998 15:24:38 +1000


G’day list,

Here is part 2, April edition, of Rev. John Carkeet’s diary:

“DIARY OF A VOYAGE FROM ENGLAND TO QUEENSLAND ON BOARD THE SHIP
‘COUNTESS RUSSELL’ BY REV. JOHN CARKEET.

Tuesday, 1st April, 1873 (All Fools’ Day) --- Fine weather, but
very hot. Made pretty fair headway. Saw plenty of flying fish today,
and some large Booby birds. Had preachiing in the evening by R.
Tailor of Menheniot, Liskeard. The subject was very striking and a
good number attended.
Wednesday, 2nd April --- Very hot, and we are not making much
headway. Great excitement prevailed on deck by one of our sailors
falling overboard, a young man named Morries; he drifted about two
miles before they recovered him, but through the exertions of the
second mate, boatswain, and four sailors he was soon safe on board.
There was great joy on deck. It was very strange to hear that the
same young sailor had a very narrow escape by being wrecked some
eleven months before. The band played this evening to a dance.
Thursday, 3rd April --- Morning very hot. Making good headway.
Saw plenty of flying fish, and had a very plesant evening.
Friday, 4th April ---- Again a hot morning. Good headway. Had
our boxes taken up to be examined. Band played again and we had
plenty of dancing.
Saturday, 5th April --- Made good headway, and only 350 miles
from the line. We were just under the sun, and it felt very hot
indeed.
Sunday, 6th April --- Still very warm. Another death this
morning --- a son of Samuel Pearce, aged nine months; the child died
in my arms. Had church service this morning, and chanted the service
for the first time; we got on as well as could be expected, having no
instrument. Made very good headway.
Monday, 7th April --- Were getting very near the line, and felt
the weather very hot. We were making very good headway, but it became
very calm in the evening, and we had very heavy rain with thunder and
lightning, such as I never saw before.
Tuesday, 8th April --- Little progress. Very calm and close in
the morning , but loud thunder and heavy rain through the day.
Wednesday, 9th April --- Very calm, but not quite as hot as
yesterday.
Thursday, 10th April --- Still calm, but had a little breeze
after dinner, and pretty good headway.
Friday, 11th April --- Very hot, and made little headway. The
men played cricket on deck.
Saturday, 12th April --- Calm weather. Another death this
morning --- a young Irishman, aged 15 years. He was ill for some
weeks with a fever, and on Thursday last the doctor gave his father
some carbolic acid to put under his bed to make it smell sweet, but
he gave it to his son to drink, which caused his death. The body was
privately committed to the deep at 11 a.m., being a Roman Catholic.
There were one or two large sharks about at the time the body was
cast overboard.
Sunday, 13th April --- Still in a calm, but had heavy rain. Had
no church service till evening. A birth today --- a girl.
Monday, 14th April --- Had fine weather, and caught the S.E.
tradewinds this morning. Good headway.
Tuesday, 15th April --- made pretty fair progress, and had
heavy rain through the day.
Wednesday, 16th April --- Weather fine, but rather hot. Good
headway.
Thursday, 17th April --- Beautiful weather and good headway.
Saw some large fish around.
Friday, 18th April --- Not quite as hot as we have had it; I
thought it getting a little colder every day. Making about nine knots
per hour. Our band played again in the evening.
Saturday, 19th April --- Good headway. Saw some flying fish.
Had an extra breeze today.
Sunday, 20th April --- Headway middling. Church service this
morning. Another birth today --- a boy. This is the second birth on
board. Weather good.
Monday, 21st April --- Fine weather. Were making pretty good
headway, and were about 19 degrees south of the line. Caught a very
large bird today.
Tuesday, 22nd April --- Sighted two islands this morning ---
Martin Vas (?) and Trinidad. They are off the South American coast,
and look very grand.
Wednesday, 23th April --- Not making much headway, it being
nearly calm, with heavy rain. Had a fight between two passengers,
both of whom fought well.
Thursday, 24th April --- Weather rather warm. Not much
progress. William Reynolds put in constable.
Friday, 25th April --- Had a good breeze, but had deviated from
the proper course.
Saturday, 26th April --- Beautiful weather, but headway nothing
extra. Had another birth amongst the single girls.
Sunday, 27th April --- Progressing slowly, although the weather
was pretty good. Saw two large wales near the ship. Another fight on
board; this time between two Irishmen, both of whom were put in
irons; one cried and the other laughed. Had devine service in the
evening.
Monday, 28th April --- Had nice weather, and made pretty good
headway through the night.
Tuesday, 29th April --- Not quite so hot as yesterday. Made
about 200 miles since yesterday. Making about ten knots per hour, and
were getting near the Cape.
Wednesday, 30th April --- Still making about ten knots an hour,
with nice weather.

To be continued...

Regards,

Kenneth Carkeet, from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.


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