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pocket hadkerchiefs as a substitute for a "fair, white linen cloth." Although the wind was rising,
and the sea leaping up almost to the windows, yet all was calm, tranquil, and devotional within.
It was Christ moving upon the surface of the waters. Just as the rite was commencing, a woman,
a Wesleyan, applied to be admitted. I quietly but firmly refused on the grounds that she had not
signified her wish to me before, although I had made public my intention a week past; and,
therefore, I could know nothing of her fitness for this blessed sacrament.
'1 April: Find all my clothes, my boots, my keys, knives, and razors incredibly damp, mildewed,
and rusty. This seems to have come on in the last week.
3 April: A fine breeze. In Latitude 12"S. My school goes on admirably.
Catechized ail the children. Young B
, a steerage passenger, one of the
late communicants, has offered to instruct the elder boys in arithmetic. Accepted his offer. A
delicate pretty little boy on board, about six years old, told me he should like to go to God, for
God was good, and perhaps he should see his dear mother there.'
This might have been the second of Jacob Kernot's sons.
'4 April: At about half-past one this morning, there being a smart breeze at the time, the main
topmast came down with a tremendous crash, breaking the main top into fragments, and
bringing with it the mizzen topmast, and the fore topgallant mast. I ran on deck and found a sad
scene of desolation, yards, sheets, and blocks hanging and lying about in hopeless confusion.
Could have no school, in consequence of this catastrophe. All the carpenters on board were
busy at converting a spare spar into a main topmast.
'6 April: The emigrants complain that the water is bad; also, that the beef is not nearly so good
as that which they had between London and Plymouth. All hands busy preparing the new
topmast. The Captain, who was a well-mannered man enough on shore, turns out a great tyrant,
and very passionate at sea. He swore violently today, and used the most unpardonable language
before the emigrants.
'Sunday, 7 April: Although the ship is making good way with her main topsail set on her new
main topmast, the Captain is causing all hands to work through the day at a new mizzen topmast
and a main topgallant mast. Although I had good reasons for considering that this energy was
unnecessary, I thought I might do more harm than good by remonstrating against it; so I was
silent. Catechized my boys for an hour or two in my cabin. Hitherto I had generally omitted the
Lord's Prayer with its admirable little preface "My good child, know this," etc. Today, I asked
the boys to say the Lord's Prayer, and to my great
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grief found that one of the boys could not say it, although he knew ail the other part of the
catechism most perfectly. I will never omit this again. Find in the evening that the morning's work
has sadly demoralized the emigrants with regard to their behaviour. Instead of the decent clean
Sunday dress, the tranquil conversation and the religious demeanour usually prevalent on the
Sabbath, the emigrants are strolling about in their working dresses joking coarsely, laughing
loudly, and some even singing. The women even have caught this evil infection.
'8 April: A very lovely day. The breeze that blows seems imbued with all the ripe fervour of
summer, and the delicate vigour of spring.
'10 April: In Latitude 22° 15-S, and Longitude 22° 56" E. We have lost our SE Trades, and
have got a very foul wind with a heavy gloomy sea. At eight am, our jigger boom was carried
away, and soon after the jib was blown out of the ropes. The ship is making water, too; the
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