Friday, February 4th, 1898, SS Ballaarat, Indian Ocean

Friday morning, 4^th Feb’y.

A very lovely morning, clear & bright (hot during the night & rest accordingly), sea quite gone down & practically no wind, water lovely & glassy. Had a nice bath, but the water (sea) is quite temperate, consequently not so refreshing as I like to enjoy.

No object in view, neither fish nor fowl, simply one huge circle of horizon, clear to the very distant line where sky & sea seem to touch. Position at noon today as follows:

Lat. N.             Long. E.           run

16.21                62.48                323.

The post office men are still at it. Oh, the monotony. I should dread it. To watch them is irksome. [1:97]

Friday night 9:05, your time 6 o’clock.

I’m just going to turn in & hope to have a good sleep. It’s been a real fine day & enjoyable. There was a cricket match this afternoon. The spar deck all netted round, still with all care, they lost 5 balls overboard. The sun set about 6 & the moon shone early after, & I noted your time about 2 p.m. Seemed strange, you see we are gaining time every degree. The table on this ship is not quite so good as on the “Victoria”, tho’ there is abundance & to spare, but she has been out 3 months & all is not so fresh. Meat I haven’t touched for several days. It is all right, but I prefer fruit & salads, & eat sparingly, generally, which suits me. The menu is much after the “Victoria” style. Here is tonight’s dinner, which I think is the best we’ve had & it is very full but the get up falls short.

SS Ballaarat, dinner, Feb’y 4^th 1898:

Consommé a la Richeleaux

Coteletts de Saumon à l’Indienn[e]

Gigot – Bonilli Sa Capres

Sarcelles Saute à la Marseillais

Céleri a la Bechamel

Chapon Roti

Salad

Pouding à la Spitzbergin

Petit Gateaux a la Floridia

Canapes à la Russe

Café – Dessert

[1:98]