SHIPBOARD DIARY OF RICHARD PHENEY
Onboard the ship Eden, 1850
Diary written by Richard Pheney on board the ship Eden bound for New Plymouth from London, and letters written by Richard in New Zealand soon after his arrival .
The diary starts on 20 June 1850 on board ship, the last entry is a letter written from the New Plymouth area on 6 January 1851.
Bay of Biscay 20th June 1850.
off the Tagus about 500 miles from land.
20th June 1850.
Dear Richard,
After a very rough passage down the channel with contrary winds from the day we
started from Gravesend up to the 16th we are now getting across this mighty bay
with something like a favourable wind and having at length got into the blue
water trust to make a good passage, but I understand that this period of the
year although favourable as regards weather, is not the best for a quick
passage.
We had a terrible knocking about in the Channel. I can only account for my
exception from the general sickness which prevailed for about a week or ten
days, by attributing it to having put my stomach into training by Aunt Betsy's
salts of Caumomile, only three out of the 13 passengers escaped. I reckon myself
case hardened against any weather now for sights and sounds continued during
this time were enough to provoke the strongest stomachs. Many of the sailors say
they have been twenty times down channel without meeting such weather.
It was the 11th before we made the Isle of Wight, and then getting a little more
favourable wind we ran down the Hampshire and Devonshire coasts the red
sandstone rock and cultivated slopes of the latter contrasting with the white
cliffs of Kent and Sussex. Time does not promise to hang so heavy on hand as I
expected. The Surgeon has committed to me the superintendance of the delivery of
water to the passengers. This brings me in contact with all in the ship, and
although troublesome may be useful.
The provisions are good and plentiful. While the sickness lasted very little
food was consumed and those who remained untouched had enough to do to prepare
and distribute the buckets of brandy, water and arrowroot etc prepared for the
sick. I am now on friendly terms with many of the passengers, the principal of
whom have land or are going out to purchase. As far as I can guess I should
think they carry with them sums varying from £30 to a £100 at my end of the ship
which all seem to consider sufficient to begin with on a small scale. But they
have all of them in addition to the money large stores of useful implements
nails, seeds etc. Many have been out before and are returning to settle down for
the remainder of their lives. From these I have gained already much valuable
information which however should the ship in sight speak, I must wait another
opportunity of telling you. Had I been going to New Plymouth I think I should
not have found any difficulty in coming to an arrangement before the end of the
voyage, although I see there is a strong prejudice in many cases against doing
so and all have the most implicit confidence in the ease with which employment
may be obtained. I have been over again pressed to change my intention to stay
at Plymouth. I have also ascertained that the distance between that port and
Wellington may be traversed without danger in seven days with knapsack, blanket
and kit. There are a few streams on the route but these present no difficulty of
any account. I find that I have made an unfortunate ommission in not bringing 2
spades, an American axe and a fork, which I shall have to get when I arrive
before I can do anything and I am likely to find good ones very dear.
There is a gentleman on board by the name of Reede who left New Zealand in l846
and is taking back a wife and seven of his relations. He holds a considerable
amount of land in the neighbourhood of Wellington having gone over among the
earliest settlers. He is a very fine man and free in his communications as if he
had nothing more than the suit he stands up in. I shall see what I can do with
him by the way.
Our mess ... I will now describe to you my more immediate companions. 1st
stands a Mr. Kemp a solicitor lately of Bucklessbury a very agreeable man with
whom I am allready on intimate terms. Though in the steerage he has some amount
of money with him and a large quantity of usefuls. He is bound for New Plymouth.
There is also on board a Mr. & Mrs. Honeywood friends of his, bound for the same
place. Mr. H. is a surgeon, and we find ourselves everyday discovering that we
are mutually acquainted with persons and circumstances in his late locality -
Cannon Street. They want me to land at New Plymouth with them, but this of
course I cannot do; moreover I hear that the landing there is very expensive so
that if I see New Plymouth it must be after I get to Wellington.
June 28th off Madeiras.
The ship by which I had hoped to send the above turned out to be a Greek vessel.
There was no wind and we were in sight of her all day before we could make her.
She was lying too with her flag half mast high betokening distress. We made her
about 6 p.m. where we found that she had lost her reckoning and feared getting
on the land in the night. Having given her the correct latitude and longitude we
parted with mutual compliments, lowering of colours etc. The incident caused
considerable excitement and not a little disappointment for as she was already
homeward bound and waiting for us everybody had been preparing letters.
To resume. The No. 2 of our mess is a scotchman Mr. Macomish a droll little
schoolmaster half jester half clergyman, but very harmless and amusing. No. 3,
4, 5 are respectively, Mr. Murdock, Mr. Bryan and Mr. Wilmot. All of them are
persons of respectable connections and manners and all as I have before said
some amount of money with them. Nevertheless on comparing notes I have found
that they have no intention of laying it out immediately but intend to take to
labour and obtain experience in the first place before spending their money. We
are a very happy family and agree well with the rest of the passengers. Our
habits on board are well calculated to keep us in health & strength although I
fear that we shall not escape sickness as we proceed, for there are several
ailing on board.
We rise at 6 a.m. and proceed at once to get the water for the day from the
ships hold to the passengers barrels on deck from which it is distributed later
in the day. I have to take an account of the buckets as they come up & see that
the mate which delivers it does not jew us. Then there is a portion of each
passenger’s water to be delivered to the cook and finally the delivery of the
remainder to the different messes.
At 7 breakfast usually begins with oatmeal porridge universally considered the
best means against the constipation which usually attends the commencement of a
sea voyage; then follow Tea, Coffee, Soaked biscuits, toasted and buttered, and
sometimes boiled salt pork; this over, the beds and bedding are 3 mornings a
week carried on deck and we are at leisure for preparing dinner. At 1 o clock we
dine - two days in the week on salt pork & pea soup – two days on beef and
boiled rice - three days on preserved meat which is a thick meaty soup with
plenty of vegetables and it forms a very agreeable change as it has little or no
salt or spices in it and is very nutritious. On those days we have also
preserved potatoes. Our mess of 6 also have 1/2 lb of flour and 4 1/2 lb of
Biscuit delivered daily and weekly 3 lb of raisins 1½ lb of suet, 3 lb of butter
as good as we get in London 1/2 per pound 6 lbs of sugar 3/4 lb of tea and the
same quantity of coffee, and 3 pints of good pickles besides mustard salt, etc.
We have likewise received limejuice twice & it makes a very pleasant drink with
the addition of a little sugar. Tea at 5 much like breakfast and for supper
those who take it must rely upon the remains of dinner or on biscuit and Butter
which never fails.
Lamps are lighted at dusk and kept on all night. 10 o clock is the nominal bed
time when the watch between decks is set and continues till 6 in the morning.
This duty devolves on the married men who in consideration are exempt from the
duty of getting up the water. Once and sometimes twice a week we get bread. Mr.
Kemp by good luck has with him some preserved yeast and by a little instruction
from the cook I have learned to turn out a moderately good loaf rather heavy
perhaps when compared with London bread, but to tender teeth nevertheless a
great boon. This I look upon as a most useful acquirement. I have also proved
very successful at pudding making that is in substituting soaked biscuit brought
to a pulp for dough so that we rarely dine without one.
One of my inventions however completely flabbergasted my friend the cook and has
caused no end of contention about the use of the oven. The preserved potatoes
are in pieces about the size of a pea and as hard as stone. To these they add
boiling water which produces a dish of mashed potatoes; now bearing in mind the
browned potatoes in Stanhope Place I one morning put the mess into a broad
bottomed tin and sent it to the oven and it came down beautifully browned and
was delicious. The experiment was not long getting abroad and the tins flock in
such numbers that cookee is quite disconcerted and not half of those tendered
can be baked in time for dinner.
We have today a good view of the side of the island of Madiera having been
beating about for more than two days between it and Porto Santo. This is the
first land we have seen since we have lost sight of the coast of Cornwall. The
weather has been latterly very fine but the wind light and very uncertain. It is
a strange sight to see this immense mass of waters of the most beautiful blue
imaginable smoother than the Serpentine - so it has been for several days
together. The outline of the island of Porto Santo approached from the north is
very bold and picturesque consisting of seven mountains. There is not from the
distance we see it at, any appearance of habitations or inhabitants. The Island
of Madeira is longer and not so bold but still ridged and beautifully patched
with wood. The town is at the south side and as we are bearing West in search of
the N.W. Trades we are not likely to see it. We were in hopes that if we passed
the town some boat might have put off and taken our letters but I now fear that
there is very little chance of sending it to you.
July 1st. At 11 last night we fell in with the trades and after crawling along
for days at a mile or two an hour, we are now driving through the water at the
rate of 7 or 8. Our mess is on very friendly terms with both Captain, Surgeon &
passengers and have twice had presents of stout which will show you the
estimation in which ones services are held. On Sunday we have prayers at l1 but
the Presbyterians form themselves into a distinct congregation and have two
services in the day, the schoolmaster officiating first saying prayers and then
reading a sermon with the usual amount of singing. We have also prayers every
evening among ourselves.
The majority are equally unacquainted with myself in agricultural pursuits and
the general purpose seems to be to obtain situations till they can earn money
and experience or both to enter on business for themselves. All however appear
anxious to get some land but an experienced man to whom I have spoken recommends
otherwise and says that farming, unless on a large scale, is not attended with
profit and that it requires considerable capital. It seems that a man may get an
acre or two free of rent for one or two years and then at a very moderate one,
with a covenant which enables him to purchase at a given price in 7 or 14 years,
perhaps then at not more that 5 to 7 £ an acre, so that as soon as 25 or 30 £ is
obtained to buy stock & erect the necessary building, which latter is usually
done by help, returned in kind, a start may be made. The tracts of pasturage yet
unappropriated in the neighbourhood of the section already sold, are open to all
for grazing purposes, and with the exception of materials there is little
expense in the multiplication & protection of stock. An acre is sufficient to
produce vegetables for a small family, cream, butter, eggs & poultry are easily
bartered for other necessaries, & there is always a market for stock in the town
of the settlement. I have been much troubled with toothache since being aboard,
& have just had one out with the aid of the Surgeon.
July 3rd. A month today since we moved from London. We are now driving along
before the trades in Lat. 23° 9 & this day passed vertical of the sun at 2 p.m
Thermometer 79 in the shade. We have seen numerous shoals of porpoises, & a
great number of flying fish, the latter a little pretty fish about a foot long;
its flight seldom exceeds a few yards. Of the former, the boatswain attempted to
make capture by harpooning, but failed, I think for want of line sufficient. A
swarm of them were gamboling like mad in the beautiful blue water, just under
our bows, their every motion seen as clear as through a glass, but they fled &
we saw them no more. It has been stated that a shark was seen following the ship
many days ago; not having seen it I cannot vouch for the truth & they are seldom
seen in the latitudes we were then in. It created many gloomy prognostications
among the superstitious, but the coincident death of two pigs in the night
fortunately gave all gloomy forebodings to the wind, & if there were any truth
in the report, probably a meal to the monster.
Sunday July 7th. I don't know what makes the difficulty, but we can never get
information of the Longitude we are in. We have seen no land since Madeira, &
appear to have run a long way West by the sun - moreover we are today in
Latitude 14.30 with the thermometer at 84° in the shade, & have therefore passed
the C. Verd Islands, but have seen nothing of them, neither did we see anything
of Teneriffe or other of the Canaries, & must have been a great way west of them
not to have seen the Peak. There seems to be little chance of any conveyance for
this home. I am quite surprised at the few ships we meet, not having seen above
half a dozen since we left the Lands-end. The weather continues very beautiful,
& although there is a great rocking of the vessel, nothing like hard weather has
yet been experienced. What we have now to fear, it seems, is a calm which may
hold us for weeks in this tremendous heat. There is scarcely any breathing
between deck & no getting sleep – if you drop into a nap for a few minutes, you
awake dripping.
Monday July 8th. Yesterday afternoon signalized a vessel which at dark neared in
so that a biscuit might be thrown on board. Her near approach excited some
consternation as she did not answer signals. She however turned out to be the
Lord Duffering from Liverpool 30 days, bound for Bombay, her latitude and
longitude agreed with our own - by this meeting we ascertained that we were in
latitude 14° 30´ north, longitude 25° 40´ west. Where we spoke to her, we had
got out of the trade winds, into what are called variables, which from
appearances would seem to be no wind at all, for we are quite becalmed, and the
heat excessive. I have omitted to tell you that we have every evening something
like a concert or a dance, and sometimes both; this evening at dark startled by
the snorting of several whales. We were not able to see the monsters but heard
them beating and blowing the water and emitting a most disgusting smell.
Tuesday 9th July. Still a dead calm longitude and the thermometer 100° Last
night there was some bathing in the dark which we get here at six oclock. They
seemed - that is to say the two or three sailors who went in, to think nothing
of danger, and I had made up my mind to take the benefit of the same this
evening: but this morning has altogether altered the complection of affairs, -
for at 11 we hooked a young shark and after considerable difficulty got him on
board. I had no idea of the beauty of the beast:- it was a very young one,
measuring not more than seven feet - the back of a most beautiful ultramarine
color, and the underneath part perfectly white. He kicked up a pretty dust on
the deck before his tail could be cut off; then his head was carried away, and
half a dozen knives were busy at his fins, etc and in no time he was cut up and
cooked, and the part I tasted was very nice.
Saturday 13th Latitude 9°. We have sight of a ship supposed to be homeward
bound, so I will close this and hope it will find all our friends in good
health. For my own part, although getting but little rest from the excessive
heat, I am getting flesh fast, and if I go on as I have done my wardrobe will
require considerable alteration by the time I reach Wellington. I get a shower
bath over the bows every morning. Pray let me hear from you soon after I arrive,
and let all who feel an interest know how far I am safe on the voyage. To your
Uncle and Aunts and to Miss Neal give my kind love and to Mr. and Mrs. Suzelback
when you see them. I trust you and Frank are well and happy and shall be all
anxiety till I hear from you. God bless you all.
July 14th to 26th. All this time little better than becalmed, having made
little more than 9 degrees in the 12 days. Sleeping at night is all but
impossible; and we get rid of daylight so early (about 6 oclock) that the
evenings are very long. The imperfect lights between decks hardly admit of
reading, & are so placed as to make writing impossible.
Yesterday we passed the Equator. On the previous evening the Captain sent round
to know whether it was the wish of the passengers to enter into the sport of the
sailors on the occasion of passing the line. This created a precious hubbub; for
it had been asserted that no such thing would be permitted, and a great many
dissented from it altogether; while others, more reasonably, only required to be
exempted from it in their own proper persons. These presented a memorial to the
Captain, & in the evening we mustered round the Captain to receive an
explanation - which was to the effect, that the sailors claimed it as a right
amongst themselves, & that those who did not wish to join in it had better keep
between decks or they would be considered partakers & share accordingly:- that
no one would be subjected against their will if below, & that he would promise
that anyone choosing to partake of it should receive no ill usage. He said that
there were several of the crew who were not yet "Neptune’s children" - id est -
had never passed the line before; and that the sailors were entitled to insist
on a compliance with the necessary and usual forms.
Thirty two of us, who thought that so favourable an opportunity of seeing the
ceremony should not be thrown, away, signed a paper submitting ourselves to the
unknown ordeal; and at dark preparations were made for receiving the Sovereign
of the ocean. At 7 o'clock, by the light of a tar barrel sent afloat to light
him, his Majesty hailed the ship "Ship-a-hoy! what ship is that?" "the Eden".
"Where are you from?" " The port of London" " Where are you bound?" "New
Zealand" He then inquired if we had any sons of his on board who had not before
been in this part of his dominions, and being answered in the affirmative
expressed the wish to see them; and was answered by the Captain’s inviting him
on board.
Whereupon his Majesty, clothed in a white bearskin, with Crown, Trident etc.
with his wife Sally, mounted on an immense polar bear, proceeded to the cuddy
where they received some drink, etc and 10 in the morning having been named, His
Majesty took his leave. Awful were the tales which they told us on all hands, to
induce us to withdraw our names from the list, and not draw numbers for turns;
but with the exception of two or three all stood firm. On the following morning,
breakfast having been got over early, a tank was formed on the quarter deck some
8 feet deep and 10 feet square, with sails etc. and filled with sea water to a
depth of about 4 1/2 feet: a planking was formed from the deck to the top of
this, where a grating was placed for the patient to be seated on. This
paraphenalia staggered a few; and coupled with several 3 feet razors of iron
hoop teethed, gave ground for general misgivings; however we were in for it and
must go through.
At 10 oclock punctually Neptune came on board attended in a state car by several
of the crew, all being masked or disguised as monsters of some kind or another.
They were regaled as before with rum, and then proceeded to business. His
Majesty took his seat on the long boat attended by his clerk, & Sally opposite
to him. On the aforesaid grating stood the shaver with his teriffic razors in
his belt and next to him the monarch's physician, who prescribed for the
patient. The members of the crew who had not passed the line were first dealt
with. The ceremony consists of binding your eyes, when you are lead up the
inclined plane to the edge of the bath. On this you are seated, and Neptune (the
Boatswain) puts a few humorous questions to you, the shaver taking the
opportunity when your mouth is open to reply, to dab his brush of soap between
your teeth. The doctor was then told to examine and prescribe for the patient.
The dose was chalk and water; and when the party was not liked, a sort of tar
plaster on the arm or chest. The shaving process is then carried on by another
monster; but there was no roughness in any of the operations and the utmost good
temper prevailed. When the shaving was finished other questions were put and
before you could answer one of them a hand applied to your feet and a sweep of
the boatswain's arm toppled you backward into the water where two fellows waited
to catch you and to prevent the possibility of hurt by the fall; also to
administer there several duckings. This part, which the majority principally
dreaded, was nothing to me, as they were very tender with several who were
favourites. I had no pitch plaster, no dose; but simply the shave and a little
chalk and water poured over my head for unction,- all tenderly done and quickly
over. Some however, and principally the cuddy passengers, received no such
indulgence; but characteristic of the sailor, after all sundry bribes of rum &
biscuit had been administered. Jack rather added to than reduced the ordeal as
compared with those who had only spared them biscuit for lobscourse and a bit of
tobacco when they ran short. We have all heard much of the tropical sunsets; but
it is impossible to convey in words any perfect idea of their magnificence.
August 1st We have been attended by flocks of Cape pigeons, the Petrel and the
Albatros. Many were shot, and some were taken with the line and hook and a piece
of pork attached. We now have a sight of a different part of the heavens: The
Southern Cross is a beautiful constellation, and the stars appear to my eye far
more numerous, bright and large than in the Northern Hemisphere. Up to the 12th
of August we had variable but on the whole favourable winds and glorious
weather, and had run down to latitude 24° South but making all the time a great
deal of waste longitude which we shall have to pick up again. We are now out of
the Tropics. This day we were suddenly becalmed about midday, and as the evening
advanced the sun looked very angry. At 7 o'clock the wind got up, and in half an
hour blew a complete gale. The men had more than they could do aloft, and the
surgeon asked eight of us to go on deck to the ropes. Taking in sail was rough
work aloft for the men, and it was like pulling against a brick wall at the
running rigging below. Although a stout ship, her rigging was very old; the
ropes tumbling and torn gave us awkward knocks. The darkness was intense; but
the worst was yet to come. Before sail could be taken in an enormous sea struck
her on the larboard quarter, swept over the poop & carrying with it the hen
coops & binnacle from their lashings, came down like a deluge upon us, dashing
everything against the bulwarks; at the same moment the mainsail split with the
report of a battery of heavy ordnance; and another sea striking her in midships,
swept in more than two yards of the bulwarks and sent the poor cow in her house
into the main hatchway. All was confusion, and it was clear that we were in
considerable jeopardy.
I had always looked upon "A sail being torn to ribbons" as a figurative
expression; but I now learned that it was no metaphor. The sight was awfully
beautiful; for now enormous flashes of lightning - not the partial flash which
illumines only one quarter of the heavens, but making all perfect day to the
edge of the horizon in every direction, came every minute lighting up
everything. The smallest rope could be seen; and the deck, strewn with ropes and
pieces of rigging, every loose thing pitching here and there like mad, while
aloft the enormous mainsheet, torn from its rings, and literally in a dozen
strips whipped the mast and rigging with frightful force, the sea surging over
the poop quarter and pouring on the quarter deck like a cascade. After shaking
myself a bit I was sufficiently undismayed to admire and even enjoy the
magnificence of the scene; but it is impossible to describe the sensation of
dismay which thrilled through the ship when we heard someone aloft shout "There
is one of us missing!" and the captains' prompt reply "Come down all of you". It
providentially proved a false alarm; had it been otherwise all human aid would
have been vain. All seemed to lose the idea of personal danger in the
satisfaction which followed.
The night was very rough; but towards daylight it all died away, and left
nothing but a heavy sullen swell until all subsided into a complete calm, which
lasted with rare intervals of light winds until we reached 39 degrees of south
latitude where we caught a good west wind and ran down the longitude at a great
rate, and passed the meridian of Greenwich on the 29th, and on the 4th Sept,
that of the Cape of Good Hope in latitude 40°. When I think of you now and of
what you are about I have got to subtract from our time. It has only been by
keeping strict account, and comparing the watches on board with the ship’s time,
that we can at all ascertain how we are going on. The authorities persist in
keeping all knowledge of either latitude or longitude from us and we have seen
no land to ascertain it by since we lost sight of the Madeiras. Indeed the
Captain seems to keep us away from every place which would enable us to
ascertain anything of our whereabouts. The latitude and longitude I have put in
were subsequently obtained through one of the mates. I got at the log and made
out to a certain extent our course, as shown in the enclosed sketch. After
passing the Cape we made sure of seeing something of the islands of St. Paul,
Amsterdam or Desolation; but were mistaken.
After passing the Cape we had a deal of rough weather and were often inundated
between decks; but at length on the 13th October 12 p.m. we caught sight of the
revolving light on Cape Otway the south point of Australia, and then discovered
the Captain's intention to take us through Basses Straits. We had now been
wandering 15 weeks along the waste of waters since we left Madeira, without
seeing any land; neither had we seen more than half a dozen sail. At 9 a.m. on
the 14th we had land on both sides and it being reported that fishing might be
attempted with success, I rigged out a line & hook and in less than half an hour
took two Barracoota’s. This is a fish in great plenty in the strait in color
much like the severn salmon,- about 3 feet long, and in shape and character like
the Pike, being a strong voracious creature. By dinner time dozens had been
taken; they require a strong line, a hook, and for bait simply a piece of red
cloth. They are very good eating either fried, boiled, or baked in vinegar, and
dry well.
We are now about 10 days sail from New Zealand; if we had but favourable wind;
but it has already fallen suddenly, which is not unusual here I learn. On the
15th we spoke a vessel from Sidney, and our captain was conveyed on board but
would not take any letters with him. It turned out to be of no consequence as
she was only going to Port Phillip. We got some Sidney papers from her, but they
contained nothing of interest. We were two days beating about Cape Wilson
surrounded by groups of the most picturesque but dangerous islands. Deuced
little chance here, thought I to myself, if overtaken with bad weather.
On the 17th we got a good wind and on the following morning were clear of them
a11 and running our course at the rate of 9 knots an hour until 12 at night,
when a sudden squall took us aback, and for the first half hour it was all neck
or nothing; to take advantage of the wind we had five studding sails out,
besides all her other cloth. Without a moment’s notice it struck her, and before
she could be got about the jib and Royal were in tatters, one of the studding
sails with enormous spar carried right away and the Foretop mast hanging with
all its hamper rigging a wreck about the Foremast. Such was the violence of the
wind, that it was two hours before all her sail could be got in and was done in
a deluge of rain and at great peril to the men, when put about, and before sail
could be taken in, she was driving before the wind at 14 knots an hour, plunging
about like something wild and retracing the course we had been making during the
day; and providential it was we had made so much for had we been driven to our
previous night’s ground, nothing could have saved us. From 12 till 2 it was as
dark as pitch, and the rain fell as only it falls here - not in drops but in
sheets. We are termed the Surgeon's watch; and are always called on any
emergency; and on such occasions are told to help ourselves from the stewards
bottles: The sailors also get as much as they like, and it needed some
inducement to go aloft, for two of the masts were known to be sprung; but it may
be said they were left to do as they liked, and they behaved gallantly.
After this we made tolerably good way until the 21st when we were again all but
becalmed, then got a fair wind and sighted Cape Egmont, New Zealand, on the
morning of the 28th, having seen nothing but shoals of whales at a distance. One
morning looking over the bows I saw a very beautiful young shark not more than
three feet long. I ran for a line and hook to make prize of him and presently we
were all intent on the sport; but we were not fated to take him, though fate
brought an elder member of probably the same family to the hook - for it had not
been over many moments when we saw a well grown fellow some nine feet long glide
from under the bows, and having twice gone round the ship took the bait and then
we had a tremendous scuffle; but a noose was at last got about him and with
twenty hands at the rope he was soon brought bodily over the side holding on by
his teeth to everything he could get at, and lastly to the bulwarks, till he was
borne away by main force. You should have seen the marks he left on a handspike
which one of the sailors thrust into his mouth when he was brought on deck!
Presently the blow from an axe brought off his tail and his fierce dashing about
ceased. They then began to cut him up without pity; indeed they appeared to have
a savage enjoyment in inflicting pain upon him, one seizing a fin another
scooping out an eye, while a third is disembowelling the monster, to take his
liver for the oil. The creature was literally divided into fifty parts before
all appearances of life were extinguished, I ate some of him, but he was rather
rank food.
In the afternoon of the 28th of October, 140 days from Gravesend we went into
New Plymouth Roads. The coast is a most beautiful one, picture five large sugar
loaf shaped mountains standing out into the sea like the advanced guard of a
great army, while all inland is mountain forest and undulating plain, with large
cultivated tracts along the shore and in the background Mount Egmont, covered
with eternal snows, rears its head some 9000 feet above the level of the sea,
forming a panorama in which the grand and beautiful are blended as I never
before saw them, and gladden and delight the eye so long used to the monotonous
motion of the waves.
The Pilot came on board with a crew half english, half natives. They are a fine
built race; very good tempered and lazy, and apparently quick and timid &
superstitious. The former is evident; and it is fortunate that they are so, for
in this settlement they are sufficiently numerous to eat us up some fine morning
for breakfast. Here my new friend Mr. Kemp leaves us, and in all about 50 of the
passengers. He went on shore on Wednesday afternoon leaving me to see his
luggage into the boats. I did not intend to go on shore for we were lying nearly
four miles out - for there is no harbour, and the coast is a dangerous one.
Moreover the expense: but on Friday I got a message from him requesting me to
come as he had positive information that the ship could not discharge till the
Monday. So after seeing all the luggage safe I got into the boat, and after
three quarters of an hours row landed through the surf on the shoulders of a
native, with a wet skin.
The rest of Richard Pheney's adventures in New Zealand can be found at:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sinnott/Pheney_files/DiaryEden.htm
Transcribed from the original by Natalie Sinnott
Converted to electronic form by Rex Sinnott
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