Ceylon

Finer weather. The ship was off the mouth of the River Tagus at 2:30am. Cape St. Vincent was rounded at 8am. We passed Cape Trafalgar at 4pm and Tarifa at 5pm; and at 5:45pm the Rock of Gibraltar was passed very close in. Had a good view of the warships in the Harbour and the best possible view of the Rock. A lot of children are on board and six o’clock appears to be the time when they are released from the nursery to take exercise on the deck with... Read More

Arose early. A warm sea water bath and a good breakfast felt much better for the day in bed. The crew appear to be mainly lascars and they appear to be very proud of their caps with red bands. Some have very fine embroidered crowns. They wear blue smocks and trousers – some of the smocks have fine needlework on and with the highly coloured scarves round their waists, they look very picturesque. A good percentage of the waiters are Indians – a very obliging lot. There is an open-air swimming... Read More

Some roll on the ship so, having promised myself a day in bed, I thought this the best opportunity and stayed there and enjoyed the rest. I understand I did not miss much – a very boisterous day.

Left for Tilbury where we boarded the “Strathmore”. My wife and a few friends were allowed on board for a very short time. We had on board a few young priests who were evidently going abroad as missionaries and the friends who were seeing them off were having a good time, trying to make themselves and everyone within earshot miserable by singing some very melancholy hymns.  Melancholy to me going away for a few months but to men who were returning to their duties abroad it must have sounded very... Read More