Friday morning, March 11/98. 10 o’clock. In the Bay of Bengal on board the SS Malta.
I’ve just been reading what I had previously written, for correction, & I find page 81 I’ve repeated what I had before written about Albion‘s letters. This I regret. Yesterday closed very calm & peaceably. Dressed for dinner (7 p.m.) & after dinner (8 p.m.) sat in my deck chair, lounge jacket on, & enjoyed what coolness was to be found, but what a hot night & it is the general outcry this morning. One of my cabin companions has slept in the smoke room these past 2 nights & I was amused at him this morning at breakfast – we happen to sit next each other. He had his coffee iced. He incessantly grumbles at the heat. I arose at 6, with the bell, had a fine bath & turned in for ½ hour, during which my cup of coffee was brought in. Arose for good at 7 & had 1 ½ hours reading on deck before breakfast. The babies make a terrible row, soon after 5, & there’s many on board but I do like to hear them. It’s real homely, & there’s a few children who are very playful. One fine girl is named Barbara & she is hempy,[1] so her name is often heard, & this draws me to No. 7. The Captain seems very fond of children & often has them grouped around him. By the way, I noted what you remarked about Tantallon[2] – Charlie’s birthday April 2nd. I think this will reach you about that date or the day after, which is a Sunday. Kiss my Comely & tell him I will be thinking about him. How lovely the sea is today again & we seem alone on it. I wrote a page only to James yesterday. Were I to let my stencil flow I would fill pages but much of it would repeat itself in my journal & may be some day he will feel disposed to have a reading of it. I will send a few lines to Mr. Adamson as I have not yet thanked him for developing the first films. I kept the picture of g’father, Charlie, & Mr. Gradon which I snapped on the walls. It is very small the light was bad.
[2:83]
12:25 p.m. Friday. Our position at noon today was Lat. N. 7.30 – Long. E. 82.14 – run 300, leaving 257 to Colombo, so about 10 tomorrow we ought to be in harbour. There’s been a sweepsteak [sic] on the run today. We are now close to the island on the East side & just about in a line with Colombo, – consult the map & you’ll find our position out. We are expected to see land in a very short while & as we approach the southern part of the island. We sighted the Island of Ceylon at 5 to 1 just before we went down to lunch & kept it in view all afternoon, & now, 5:45, we seem as far off as H’pool is from Redcar. It has been very hot all afternoon till about 4 when a fine land breeze sprung up & gave us all new life, tho’ it’s not a “spicy” breeze yet.
I forgot to ask you a while since, did you send Bessie anything? Also Willie will please send a tin of apricots up to Mr. Adamson as from me in remembrance of sighting the Island of Ceylon. Possibly I may have to post this early tomorrow morning & will hold it ready. If so, excuse its abrupt finish.
I’ve a letter for Uncle James & Mr. Adamson. I got Greenwich Mean Time from the navigating officer after lunch today, but at the moment that watch is in my cabin & I’m writing this in the smoke room. It is too breezy for writing on deck, tho’ the breeze is most welcome. 2 steamers passed us [2:84] a few minutes ago – first objects today, & all were at the side to see them, both Calcutta bound, one a “British India” the other an “Asiatic” line. The thermometer in my berth last night was 82, port, door, & all ventilators open.
[1] Mischievous.
[2] Tantallon Castle, North of Berwick-Upon-Tweed