Had a splendid dinner off the swine. Tenth Sunday at sea. Distance 58 miles. Therm. 60. Husband says we are coasting now, because we are sailing for some distance near the land.
A little while ago I was wishing the weather was a little cooler, now it is a little too cool. What dissatisfied creatures we are! We get along very slowly, we have either a current or a head sea against us all the time so it’s impossible to get along Distance 92 miles, therm. at noon 58. Morning and evening are much cooler. Steward has just lit the fire for the first time since we came out, which makes the cabin feel very cosy and comfortable, at 5 p.m. on the 2nd. of Dec.
On Sat. we were in the same latitude as N.Y. only N. York is North while we are South, which makes all the difference. We have a nice fair wind now but they have been of such short duration we are afraid to make any calculation. It is quite amusing to see the difference in expression of countenance in everybody when we get a breeze, myself not excepted.
We have sailed 120 miles but I presume we are not more than 90 miles nearer the Cape, the currents are so strong against us. The weather is delightful, not quite so cold today.
Ten weeks out today, we ought to be up to the Cape now, but it is very evident we are not, but some distance from it. This morn. we had some delicious pork sausages and head cheese for breakfast. We figure up 90 miles today.
The ship has been too unsteady and too much of a list for machine work, neither do I think there will be much chance this side of the Cape, so I don’t get much chance to practice. However I find plenty other work, and keep myself pretty well employed, there is nothing like it, particularly on such long voyages as these. Distance today 123 miles with twenty miles current against us.
1.40 Still no vessels. There was a small one yesterday but too far off to see what she was. Therm. 55.
No pig killing today. We have had so much pork all week we are going to have a change this week. The weather continues very fine, a light squall once in a while, but none of those terrific gales that we expected, thank God. There is no dependence in the winds here, sometimes for a few hours we go eight or nine knots, then dies away almost calm, go one or two for a little while, then a shift of wind perhaps right ahead. It is quite a treat to have such fine weather anyway. Distance 124 miles. Therm. 56.
We had a taste of winter last night, wind, rain and hail, the hail stones as large as a pea. I could scarce keep myself warm in bed. Therm. this morning 46. Distance 96 miles with 25 miles current against us. Had a moderate gale this morn. but now clearing up.
11:30 am I am now being rocked about as tho I was in a cradle. I suppose we are now about three hund miles from Cape Horn. I hope we shall have better luck on the other side or we shall make over one hundred and fifty days passage. We have already sailed eight thousand and sixteen miles since we left N.Y. Up to noon sailed 96 miles.
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