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The Journal of Edward Ward 1850-51

Tuesday, November 5th

Tuesday, November 5th

A great deal of motion last night, though very calm and therefore the more intolerable. Towards morning the rolling abated, but it had been as violent as on any occasion since our gale. The day is much warmer, reminding us all of our good friends the tropics. Towards the afternoon and evening the wind is fresh and fair, going eight and a half knots. Latitude at noon 41.24 S., Longitude 22.22 E. Distance run 193 miles. The Captain has doubled his bet with FitzGerald, backing the event of our getting in within ninety-eight days from Plymouth. This morning early the sailors on the forecastle harpooned a porpoise which they cut up for food and oil. It weighed about a hundredweight and measured five feet in length. The Doctor very eloquent upon its merit. We caught with the line today another Cape pigeon, but let it go again. The Doctor amusing himself stuffing the other and the stormy petrel. FitzGerald took a good sketch of them. The emigrants made a Guy today and, as usual, made him an instrument of extortion—putting a tin in his hand to collect money on the poop. Made two discoveries the last few days: No. 1: That Harvey, one of the sailors, sailed in the Hecate with Coz. Hamilton, of whom he talks as if of some fiend of darkness. No. 2: That page 62our old cook was cook to the Essex on her voyage with the 87th. I wish I had known these things before to write them home.