FROM LONDON TO AUCKLAND.

New Zealander, Volume XXIV, Issue 2614, 24 March 1866, Page 4

FROM LONDON TO AUCKLAND.

BEING THE DIARY OF \ PASSENGER BY THE 611II’ ‘ UEGOAT6.’ (Con I INCKO.) Wednesday, March 22nd. Latitude (about) 22 3 N., longitude, \i> 3 W. We must now be rapidly approaching the tropics, if not actually past the tropic of C ancer. I can only guess our latitude and longitude by marking the ship’s rate of sailing and getting a hint now and then from the men, as the captain is ' cry quiet and never mentions onr whereabouts, at least not to us third-class and intermediate passengers. The sun rises rapidly—by ten o’clock it is warm, and in the afternoon scorching where there is no wind. The ship bowls along at the rate of about fiv» “ miles an hour; there is scarcely a ripple on the water; and taken altogether it 1- a | splendid specimen of tropical weather. 1 wear nothing but light tro.vscrg, shirt, hat, and boots. Thursday, March 23rd. Latitude (about) 20 3 N., longitude 20 3 W. , Very gentle and unsteady winds, ship not travelling more than four miles throughout the day. Freshened a hit towards night. Barque in sight all day long over to windward. Wind being gentle, she worked gradually ahead ; with a stiff breeze we would have walked away from her. In the evening, just before going to bed, a erv was raiscil that there was a shark at the bow of the ship, and a crowd immediately collected and eagerly discussed its appearance, some commenting upon the shape of the head, the tail, See. It was one blaze of phosphorescent light. People could even make out the eyes. For my own part, I did not b llevc in the shark theory at all—it, kept too much in one place, an 1 stuck too close to the vessel. 1 was rather of opinion that it was a sheep’s skin wh’eh the boatswain had hung out to bleach, and on examination this turned out to be the case, when of course the pa-'sengei s f hj particularly small, as they had most of them traced out the he.nl, bo ly, tail. fins. See. In the morning of this day all beds, &c., were brought up on deck to be aired. We had now got into very warm weather, but as yet we c mid see no lldi, except a few (lying fish. These mostly appear in the evening, and but slightly flyfly from the water. Friday, March 24th.—Latitude (ab mt)

19 3 N., longitude 22 3 W. .Again the wind is very light. The barque which lias been in sight since Sunday and which yesterday drew adiead, is now on onr beam about five miles off Yesterday our captain signalled her, but not understanding the signals, can’t say what passed. Scarcely a cloud in the sky and getting hotter and hotter. Say we shall cross the line in si.; or seven days, but if the wind continues ns asat present. 1 very much doubt it. Towards evening breeze spring.; up and ship begins to walk ; in the night doing nine miles an hour.

Saturday,M;ircl l 2B di. —Latitude (about) 1G ° N., longitude 24 *' W. 'l'lie early part of this morning was very cloudy, hut cleared up and sun came out hot as ever. Saw several “.\iotlicr Careys chickens' and plenty of (lying fish. An immense shoal of porpoises gambolled near the slop for some time, but did not com ■ nigh enough for our boatswain to try his hand, lie was ready with rope and harpoon had they approached the martingale. The French barque is close by us. on our starboard beam. She is bound to Valparaiso. This day made a loaf from yeast of our own manufacture. A decided failure; bread almost as heavy as lead, hut nil dezpermi'lum —better luck next, time. Most delightful weather, ship going along as smoothly as a steamboat on the Thames. At present all have had good health. Day ended with singing and dancing among the sailors. Before going to bed, wind began to get np. Barque still a-hcad. Sunday, March 2Gth.— Wind very fresh. Ship going along at the rate ot eight knots. Plenty of flying fish in sight. One Hew on to the deck last night and another did the same to-night. In the morning, at 10.30, prayers on the poop. In the afternoon plenty of porpoises in sight, also “Mother Carey’s Chicks.” Made an al tempt to catch some porpoises, hut ship going too fast. Say we shall be up to the line in three or four days. Asked mate this morning what latitude we were in ; said 13 ° 47’’, so that we are within 800 miles of the line. Expect some fun in ero-sing, as sailors arc a comical sot, and declare they will have a visit from King Neptune. Jn the evening, just before going to lied, several of us stripped on the forecastle and •we found plenty of volunteers to sluice us with salt water. Quite refreshing. I slept like a lop after it, though the air was close and stifling in tha berths. Religious meeting this evening in steerage, when u as usual came down and began liiakin" most disgraceful row with chains while spanking or hymns were going on. Mate came down and desired him to desist but without effect ; captain then called bim on to the poop ; what he said we do not know, but .1 n annoyed the meetin"' no more, neither did he come down stairs till it was over, so that the captain geerns to have shut him up very effectually. Monday, March 27th.—Latitude, 10 " 45” N. ; longitude 20 3 W. On coming on deck this morning found the breeze siill continued and the ship going along at about eight knots. At six o'clock was going ten and a half. French hark some mils astern, which showed us that though she could hold her own in a light

breeze we can beat her into fits with a j good wind. If the present breeze continue, she will he out of sight by six o’clock p m, A shark came alongside this morning, and porpoises and living fish tire now common. The heat of the sun on the forecastle is very grant, and it is consequently almost deserted. At twelve o'clock the captain and two mates take observations of the sun, which is now almost directly above our heads, and the mate says we shall cross the line in two or three days. Captain tells passengers that we tire now In longitude and latitude to fall in with homeward bounders, and all hands immediately set to work to prepare their letters, llard'y has captain left forecastle afft r taking observation when a homeward bounder heaves in s'ght, but, unfortunately’, she passes about eight miles off on our starboard beam Wind N.F. by F. Bv sunset French barque ns nearly out of sight as possible. At eight o’clock ship going nine and a half knots, and continued on at similar pace throughout the night. Another flying fish came on board and was captured and eaten. It was as fat as butter, about the size of a herring, and beautiful eating, as 1 can testify, for I had (he pleasure of tasting it Tuesday, March 28th.—Latitude 7'-IO - N. ; longitude, ‘22 * W. It Is now a month since we came on board, and a long weary month it has seemed. Certainly the first week appeared as long as the other three [mt together, wh eh was, I suppose, on account of (he cold and the prevailing sickness. The French barque is entirely out of sight. The breeze still holds, and ship going along eight knots. Men sav wo si,all reach the line by Wednesday night or Thursday morning, and are already making preparations for the visit of King Xeptnne. I saw one this morning cleaning an old tar brn-h, and preparing it for a mixture of pig-dung and swill. Hints conic out, that we are short of water and that tanks leak, but whether it, be so or not I cannot say. Mate was yesterday I reported to bare said that we ;un = t put i into Cape Town for a fresh supply. Only hope we may. Last night we were forbidden to go on to (be forecastle, which is onr chief place of congregation, in consequence of some mischievous vagabond cutting one of the ropes ; so wc have all resolved that we will never touch a rope till the prohibition is taken off, and when they want the 11 Auckland rope ” or the main brace hauled in, instead of having fifty willing arms to help them the men may do it themselves; then perhaps the skipper may alter his mind. No ships in sight all day hj ng. Ship going eight knots mostly.

Wednesday, March 20th. —Latitude about d “ N., longitude 17 3 W.

Coming on deck this morning wo found two of the men in irons. It appears that they had gone down the secon 1 cabin about two ocloek, a.m.. and were caught in the act of robbing the purser’s stores. They vere on the poop, and sccm al to care but little for the punishment. At eight o’clock they wont into the cabin and w< re logged. They were then released, but were kept at w tl< all day long, in both watches, instead of watch and watch, and this is to he their punishment till Saturday. Discover this morning that there is not the slightest chance of tom bing at the Capo, and tlint we have tons and tons of water on board, so that the whole report seems to have been a hoax. Begin gradually to go on the forecastle again, and have no doubt it will he nil right again in a few days. Breiz-' still lasts and ship going through the water nicely. To-day has been the hottest day wo have had, and !Lo atmosphere down staffs was very oppressive. Thursday, March 30th.—Slop becalmed to-d; v f»r first time. Breeze Mining up about twelve o'clock, and rain came down in torrents. In he evening again becalmed. (7b be continued .)