Monday morning, 11:45.

Yesterday was a glorious day at sea. I arose early, it being so tempting on deck, had a refreshing cold bath, & breakfast over, read in my chair on deck a little book I bought at Plenderleith’s Short Life of Dr. Cairns, & at ¼ to 11 a service was held in the saloon. A young C. of E. parson read the prayers, only I was disappointed he didn’t give us a sermon. I kept my mind fixed on home time & chanced to look just at 10:30 which recalled Park Road,[1] & again at 5 to 11, & joined the “Intercessory”. I then got Tupper’s Philosophy, a favourite of mine, [1:86] & passed the time till lunch, 1 p.m. I had soup & prepared salad, & cheese & fruit, in preference to meat. We also had ices & iced waters. It was very hot in the saloon but the punkhas are going every meal now & this keeps it tolerably comfortable. The afternoon was spent chatting & promenading till afternoon tea, & then reading till dinner time, after which we all sat on deck with a breath of wind & a most lovely sky.

I early retired, port hole open, doors & ventilators also, & yet it was too hot to sleep soundly.

Rain had fallen heavily during the night & a dense wall of fog had been encountered early this morning, & the ship had laid too for more than an hour. I must have slept soundly then, bed covering out of the question, pyjamas only, & I saw some mattresses laid in the retiring saloon as I went to my berth last night. I suppose this is largely done for the object of coolness. I arose before 7 this, Monday, morning, had a cold bath & felt fresh & well. [1:87] Had an hour on deck before breakfast & enjoyed the salubrious breeze. It has brightened beautifully & I’ve written this sitting in my chair. The letter box is fixed for clearance at 5, to be posted at Aden, where we are expected to arrive early night. Mails are to be transhipped (800 bags) into the “Ballaarat”,[2] the steamer I join, & due to leave tomorrow. Yesterday at 4 p.m. the temperature of the sea water registered 78 ½, & our deck therm. in the shade at 5 p.m. was 80, this forenoon it was 77, but we are having a fine, soft, balmy breeze.

Yesterday, Sunday, at lunch, all officers, stewards & others wore white trousers & at dinner white dress jackets & vests & blue trousers, & this morning I note all officers & crew have white trousers on, warm climate now. I dressed quite summery yesterday & felt very comfortable. I felt amused this morning when I got up & looked at both watches. Home time ½ past 4, & ours 7. Lovely sunshine, warm & July-like. [1:88] Now it is 10 to 12. I will close this & post it after lunch. I’ve enjoyed it. I had a little salmon, mayonnaise & salad cheese & iced pears.

Our position on Saturday was as follows:

Lat. N.               Long. E.            Run

22.52                 37.6                    370

Sunday

17.25                 40 23                 run 375

Today

12 34                 43.31                 run 356

(You’ll note what the detention by fog meant.)

The thermometer yesterday on deck under awnings at 4:30 registered 80.

The water (sea) at 4 p.m. 78 ½.

So you can understand our cold baths are very temperate.

Now I will close, & my next letter will, all well, be from Bombay.

Give my “Comely” a Kiss, & love to you & all. W.

Posted in the Red Sea, Jan’y 31/98, on board the P&O SS RMS “Victoria”.

You post all on to Berwick, didn’t you?

Will try & ascertain at Aden if “Andorinha” has arrived.

[1:89]

[1] Park Road Presbyterian Church, West Hartlepool.

[2] P&O Steamship built in 1882, sold and scrapped in 1902.

Photo: Punkha Fan