Leonard had gone out the previous year, and wrote for me to go there; and Eustace was willing to go too, so we packed 14 cube cases and started, going by way of [161 : XII] Great Western Railway to Birkenhead, and there got on board one of the worst boats; I say worst, as I found the insurance on that and similar boats raised considerably, soon after landing.
On the voyage I saw for the first time those interesting creatures called ……. (footnote 1) or sea-horses; they have heads like little horses, and stand out of the water up to their middles; they were not afraid, and stood up in the water and looked at the ship going by, quite interested and to us passengers interesting. We had bought oilskins while in Liverpool for wet weather, and were asked if we were seamen when we put them on.
We had iron bunks and wooden pillows, which could be used as lifebuoys if occasion arose. I used to listen to the gurgling of the water when in bed at night, and it sounded pretty near, and at times [162 : XIII] dangerous. There was also some drinking going on, and when the bottles were empty some of the drinkers would throw the bottles about, and smash them against the iron bunks; so one night when they were doing this I went out on deck, and some officers came down to see what the row was about, and I told them; they spoke in stentorian tones, and after that quiet ensued.
We were allowed bread and cheese for supper at about 8pm; they could have given us an onion to eat with it, but did not. The vessel had to be cleared of everything that could be got rid of, and I should think 20 cases of onions were dumped overboard, so that they could begin taking on cargo (probably cattle) as soon as the vessel docked). However, as soon as we got to Quebec and got tied up, a tremendous thunderstorm broke overhead [163 : XIV] and we were not allowed off the vessel until it was over; but while it lashed, it was the most violent thunderstorm of my experience. My 14 cases were in 2 lots, so we got one lot marked (footnote 2), and it took me nearly all night to find the others and get them marked and passed; and then to sleep.
Transcriber’s footnotes:
1. There is a gap in the diary here. Perhaps “hippocampus” or “hippocampi” was the word he wanted.
2. Presumably the customs chalk-mark
Click here for the title page, previous section or next section