-O ■ 11 MvKN' 1U)1. rs, n.SC, F.L.S. 



On Moiulay. March i8th. ho writes: — 



•■ I'liis moiniiis early tacked once or twice to the anchorage (Algoa 

 Bayl. • • • Thus ended what was, I think, one of the most pleasant 

 voyages ever sailed ; everything heing novel to nie gave a great charm 

 to the time, which passed qnickly. thongh it was Jong, being exactly ninety- 

 four days." 



On each of these ninety-four days he notes, evidently with 

 great care and precision, the latitude, longitude, course and dis- 

 tance travelled. On January 8th " We tust noticed the barometer 

 and thermometer, of which I shall henceforth give account." He 

 observes besides many things of interest : 



■■ OtY the Cape Verde we noticed that our sails and rigging were 

 covered with a line red-looking sand. The Captain says it regularly 

 occurs here with the trades, and is blown from the sandy shores of Africa- 

 It makes the atmosphere quite hazy and thick for a few days, and is, 

 1 think, a remarkable phenomenon." 



The dolphins, sharks, flying-tish and birds received their 

 meed of attention, and their habits are carefully recorded. The 

 methods of harpooning the porpoises are described, and of one 

 so secured, " I cleaned and dried the jaws with teeth com- 

 plete." Less consjMcuous forms of animal life were seen, in par- 

 ticular abundance ofi Tristan d'Acunha, and the forms of some 

 are sketched. The ordinary time-passing occupations of a long 

 vovage. the same to-day as sixty years ago. were resorted to. 

 and in addition he entered keenly into the more practical life of 

 the ship. He learned to steer ; assisted the officers in taking the 

 dailv observations ; having climbed the lower masts, he writes : — 



" I mustered up courage suflicient to take me up to the top-gallant 

 yard. I am ambitious to achieve the utmost by ascending to the main 

 truck or royal mast-head: of this I will advise you duly." 



A dav later his ambition in this direction was satisfied. On 

 February g we are told : — 



'■ I employ myself just now in teaching one of the apprentices for- 

 ward Mr. H [erbert]'s system of running hand. He does very well, and 

 rapidly improves-" 



In this early record we have a picture of a youth endowed 

 with energ}-. enthusiasm and determination, a good physique, 

 steadv nerves, an active, methodical and well-balanced mind. 

 keen powers of observation, the habit of recording what he saw. 

 the ability to adapt himself to his immediate circumstances, and 

 a readiness to help others less happily situated than himself. 



Landed in Port Elizabeth, he proceeded by ox- wagon to 

 Grahamstown — " a pleasant journey of six days over 96 miles " 

 — arriving there on 28tb March. 1850 — " being exactly 106 days 

 from the Docks." 



TTis business career at Grahamstown was interrupted by 

 the outbreak, in December. 1850, of the Eighth Kaffir War. in 

 which he saw active service. Two years later his engagement 

 with ^Ir. Kensit was dissolved, and he became bookkeeper in 

 a mercantile house at Port Elizabeth, in which position he re- 

 mained until 1855, when he paid a short visit to England. The 



