VOYAGE OF THE "TEAVANCORE."

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 18, 10 May 1851, Page 3

VOYAGE OF THE "TEAVANCORE."

The " Travancore," Captain Brown," left Gravesend at noon on Friday, the 6th December, with a freight of 173 souls, of which eight were chief, and seventeen fore-cabin passengers. On Sunday, the Bth inst, she lay in the Downs, detained by contrary winds. Early in the morning of Monday, however, she sailed with a gentle breeze, and soon left the shores of our native land among the remembrances of the past.

During the next ten days we experienced exceedingly rough weather in the chops of the Channel and the Bay of Biscay. Two kinds of feeling were prevalent at this time, —dismay, at being obliged to beat about in fruitless attempts to get out of the Bay—and wonder, at the performances and powers of our good ship. At last, on the 19th, about noon, a fresh fair wind sprang up, enlivening the most desponding, and soon reducing the list of sea-sick passengers. It was not till then that we began to experience the exhilarating effects of a sea voyage. The cold and damp of this period proved fatal to nearly the whole of the starlings that had been sent on board in the hope of some of them at least reaching New Zealand. Only four survived the Bay, these also died at a later period in the voyage, except one, which escaped from its wiry tenement. The " Travancore" now began to prove her sailing powers. She averaged for some time 200 miles daily ; and on Thursday, the 26th of December, we saw the loom of Madeira to the eastward of us. Our westerly course extended to within a short distance of the Brazilian coast, passing on Saturday, the 18th January, at midnight, between Trinidad and the Martin Vas Rocks.

Various and multiplied now became the objects of interest and excitement. The catching of a dolphin, or bonita, the phosphorescent appearance of the tropical seas at night, music, dancing, and the usual nautical games, all contributed to make the days pass away quickly and pleasantly.

The first death on board, that of an infant who had been sickly from the commencement of the voyage, occurred on the 16th January. Altogether, we lost four of our fellow voyagers by the hand of the fell destroyer—two of these were infants ; of the other two, both from the same family, one was a lad of 17, the other a girl •of 9 years. Two births also took place ; both children, a boy and girl, received the name of the vessel in addition to their other names.

Like that of the " Charlotte Jane," our voyage was enlivened by the publication of two journals, the Gazette and the Chronicle, the former edited by the schoolmaster of the vessel; these afforded a medium for the lucubrations of the poets, and the wit of the laughter-loving souls, in our compact little community. In voyaging round the Cape of Good Hope we met with much uncomfortable and contrary weather ; during the first sixteen days we were beating off and on without gaining a single mile in our onward course. This was succeeded by stiff steady breezes, not unfrequently increasing to gales, our rate being on an average about ten knots an hour. In one of these sudden gales, viz. on the 12th of February, our fore top mast and main top gallant mast were carried away. At this time one chief source of amusement was the capture of the Albatross, that continually on outspread wing sailed around the vessel, or alighted in search of food in our wake. One day no less than fourteen of these birds were caught; their quills, and webbed feet, the latter of which were made into tobacco pouches, supplying curiosities and relics for our friends in England. Our crew, consisting chiefly of

foreigners, viz., Swedes, Germans, &c, seemed to be more free from the superstitions respecting these birds, the " Careys," &c, than we had expected to find them.

On Monday the 24tli of March, we at length sighted the " Snares," betokening our proximity to Stewart's Island, and filling us with the delightful hope of in a day or two ending our voyage. But the breezes we had so long experienced here died away, and dense mists began to hide the land from our view; we had, however, brief intervals of most delightful weather, enabling us to sight the coast line of the region of Otago, Molyneux river, &c. On Sunday the 30th of March, the bold outline of Banks's Peninsula became more and more visible. A breeze most opportunely sprang up in the afternoon of the same day, but too late to allow of our reaching the entrance of Port Cooper before dark. An old whaler, whom we had picked up from a boat laden, with timber, and who was engaged to pilot the vessel, expressed confidence in his ability to take her up the harbour, despite the darkness; the ship's head was accordingly brought to bear on the land. However, when we were within two or three minutes run of what was supposed to be the mouth of the harbour, our pilot declared that he could not discern the opening. All was now dismay and anxiety ; the ship was, however, providentially put round in time, and we stood out to sea. By dint of tacking and retacking, we found next morning that the ground we had lost was but trifling, but a foul wind now prevailed. The day was beautifully fine, and by short tacks we contrived to come to an anchor about four in the afternoon, although not within sight of the town. The general impression, however, upon the minds of those who had any idea of colonial towns, was, on landing soon after, one of pleasure and surprise, at the busy and neat appearance of a place so mushroom-like in its rise, as the town of Lyttelton. And thus ended a voyage, which, on the whole was pleasant and instructive, leading us to admire both the creating and preserving hand of Him, "who holdeth the sea in the hollow of His hand." Much of the pleasantness was produced by the kindness and liberality of the captain to the passengers and emigrants ; the pains-taking attention to the sick, shewn by the surgeonsuperintendent, J. Livingstone, Esq., also deserves mention.