Like the _Rodney_, she was fitted up with all the latest comforts and
conveniences—luxuries they were considered in those robust days. On her
forward deck against the midship house were lashed a splendid cowhouse,
two teak wood pens to hold 30 sheep, and a number of hen coops which
were crammed with poultry, ducks, and geese, the butcher being one of
the most important members of her crew.
Her foc’s’le had three tiers of bunks, for she carried a large crew. In
1886 I find that she hauled out of the South West India Dock with 200
passengers and a crew of 51 all told.
She did not stay very long in the Adelaide trade, but from the early
eighties was a favourite passenger ship to Melbourne, her commander
being Captain Daniel R. Bolt, a very experienced passenger ship
commander, who had previously had the _Darling Downs_, _Royal Dane_,
and _Holmsdale_. Under him without any undue hurry, she was generally
between 80 and 85 days going out, and in the nineties coming home.
Below will be found a typical abstract of her log when running the
easting down, taken from her outward passage in 1884:—
August 31.—Lat. 38° 00′ S., long. 1° 52′ W. Dist. 242. Moderate
steady S.W. wind, rain squalls. Two sail in company.
September 1.—Lat. 38° 57′ S., long. 2° 47′ E. Dist. 226. Strong,
unsteady, squally S.W. to west wind, high sea, royals set.
September 2.—Lat. 39° 07′ S., long. 7° 42′ E. Dist. 230. Variable
south wind, squally, heavy rollers from S.W.
September 3.—Lat. 39° 40′ S., long. 12° 49′ E. Dist. 241. Westerly
wind, fresh and squally, under topgallant sails, heavy rollers.
September 4.—Lat. 40° 06′ S., long. 19° 05′ E. Dist. 288. Strong gale
and high sea.
September 5.—Lat. 40° 24′ S., long. 24° 50′ E. Dist. 267. Moderate W.
gale, high sea.
September 6.—Lat. 40° 49′ S., long. 30° 44′ E. Dist. 267. Gale
moderating and falling to light S.S.E. wind.
September 7.—Lat. 40° 08′ S., long. 35° 15′ E. Dist. 213. South wind
variable in force and direction.
September 8.—Lat. 38° 30′ S., long 36° 37′ E. Dist. 116. Variable
light E. and S.E wind.
September 9.—Lat. 40° 25′ S., long. 38° 36′ E. Dist. 148. Moderate
E.S.E. gale. Sea smooth. P.M., strong N.E. wind, reduced to topsails.
September 10.—Lat. 42° 17′ S., long 42° 18′ E. Dist. 203. Strong
gale and head sea. Main upper and three lower topsails. Later, wind
dropping.
September 11.—Lat. 42° 10′ S., long. 46° 41′ E. Dist. 196. Light W.
wind, variable airs increasing to strong N.W. gale at midnight.
September 12.—Lat. 42° 28′ S., long. 52° 13′ E. Dist. 247. 6.30, wind
shifted to west and fell light, then freshened, sea smooth.
September 13.—Lat. 42° 22′ S., long. 58° 06′ E. Dist. 262. Moderate
westerly gale and high sea, royals in. Midnight, light winds.
September 14.—Lat. 42° 10′ S., long. 63° 50′ E. Dist. 253. Increasing
N.W. wind.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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