Saturday morning, Sep. 3rd, a very delightful morning, sea gone down, quite calm & air sweet & fresh, sea birds, “mollyhawks”, are now flying astern of us, a big bird of the gull species, see Chambers, & these will be about us not [sic] till we land.[1] (Just before we got to Honolulu, a pretty little linnet flew about the ship. It had got blown out to sea & seemed quite exhausted.)
Our position this Saturday noon was: Lat. N. 31.36, Long. W. 148.30, run 316 kns., leaving 1,544 to Victoria. Light breeze, smooth sea. It is now 3:30 ship’s time. The day continues as fine as when it opened. We had a fine moon last night. I was on the hurricane deck after dinner getting an airing (a favorite resort of mine for an hour & more after dinner), & I saw the moon rise about 7:45 & a lovely sight it was. The Bear or Plough is now very visible, & the Pole Star likewise.[2] Now your time since we crossed the Meridian 180° is ahead of us & I suppose now it will be nearing midnight Saturday. Every degree makes a difference of 4 minutes, & of course, as we get westward we come closer to your time. Up to the 180° on the eastward [6:62] side we were ahead of you, & on the Meridian exactly 12 hours, & by prolonging one day to 48 hours adjusts the time then & there. At Honolulu I posted one letter, 1 packet photos, one you will specially like, I think, & I have the negative with me, also 3 p. cards, 1 Charlie, 1 Andy, & 1 Mr. Adamson, pretty stamps they had on, so were the stamps on letter & packet. I hope all will be delivered. This is the anniversary of the Minister’s wedding, & I here note my best wishes & congratulations to them, & many may they be spared to happily enjoy.
Now I am getting very warm & perspiring freely, so I shall give up for today & go on deck to cool. This I have written in the saloon, part before lunch. The day continued very fine, sea fairly smooth & very pleasant on deck.
[1] Inserted on facing page: “See fowl. See encyclopedia.”
[2] Inserted on facing page: “Ursa Major & Pole Star”.