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May
Wednesday 1. May! This morning early a small square rigged Vessel passed us at the distance of about a mile, shewing Portuguese Colours, and steering South East. We did not think it worth while to speak her. —
Thursday 2. May! At 7. P.M. a Light Breeze sprung up – that enabled us to Steer [c]ourse North by EaSt.
Friday 3. May! We sounded again this morning on the outward edge of the Abrolhos Shoal, and found bottom at 29 Fathoms! Our Latd. today at Noon was 17.° 20' South; and we are entirely clear – and to the Northward of the Abrolhos Islands and Banks. — We are this day 11 Weeks from Port Jackson, and have not made near so much progress in our Voyage since doubling Cape Horn as we expected to have done, being rather sanguine in our hopes of crossing the Line in one month from the time of doubling Cape [Horn], which only adverse Winds prevented.
Saturday 4. May! Our Voyage from Cape Horn having been so much more longer than was at first expected, our stock of water getting [low], and Capt. Raine being in want of Provisions for his own crew, he has determined with my concurrence to touch at St. Salvadore, one of the Portuguese Ports on the Coast of Brazil, and now within about 120 miles of us, in order to obtain water and other Refreshments for the remaining part of the Voyage. From the distance being so short, we expect, in case the present Wind lasts, to arrive at St. Salvadore in the course of tomorrow. — At ½ past 4. P.M. we came up with, and Spoke to a Portuguese Brig bound from Rio Grande (on Brazil Coast) to St. Salvadore, ladened with Rice, Sugar, & Cheese, being 35 days out from the former Port. – N.B. We saw this vessel at a great distance directly ahead early this morning. My man George having reminded me that this was the anniversary of the Storming and Capture of Seringapatam on the 4th. of May 1799, we all drank a Bumper to the Health of Genl. Baird and the Conquerors of that important Fortress, in which poor George himself was not forgotten.
Sunday 5. May! At 8. a.m. Land was seen from the Mast Head, and at a quarter past Nine O'Clock, we could see the Land very distinctly from the Deck – right-a-Head and about 18 miles distant from us. — The Coast here appears rather low – and broken into small Hummocks. As we approached nearer the Land, we had a very fine [view] of the Country and the Forts immediately adjoining the Harbour – which was very Picturesque indeed; – more particularly after passing the several Forts and coming in sight of the Town and the shipping in the Harbour, which at this time appeared to be very numerous. — At 1. P.M. we came to anchor in St. Salvadore Harbour, abreast of the Town and within about a mile of the Shore. At 2. P.M. Capt. Raine went on shore to wait on the Portuguese Governor and the British Consul William Pennell Esqr. I addressed a Letter to the Consul by Capt. Raine stating the cause of our touching at this Port, and soliciting his good Offices in facilitating our departure. At 4. P.M. The Packet anchored in the Harbour from England, having Mr. Chamberlaine [sic] the Consul General for Rio [de] Janeiro on board. — At 9. P.M. Captain Raine returned on board, and brought me a very polite friendly Note from Mr. Pennell the Consul, giving Mrs. Macquarie myself & Family a kind invitation to take up our Quarters at his House as long as we should remain at St. Salvadore – and to land and dine with him tomorrow. — We have accordingly resolved on availing ourselves of Mr. Pennell's hospitable and kind invitation. — N.B. — Altho' by our Reckoning from Port Jackson this day of our arrival at St. Salvadore is Sunday; yet, we are according to real time and reckoning of this part of the World, - and also from the circumstance of Capt. Raine having in the Surry circumnavigated the Globe since he last sailed from England, One Day more forward in our reckoning than we ought to be. — He therefore (and of [c]ourse all of us on board the Surry) and of its the reckoning here - by going back a day in his, and consequently calls this Saturday!!! At 4. P.M. the same day of our arrival – the Nockton Packet, commanded by Capt. Joseph Morphew, anchored in the Harbour close to us. — This Packet sailed from England on the 15th. of February last, but has touched at Lisbon, and several other Places, on her Passage out. — Henry Chamberlain Esqr. His B. Majesty's Consul General at Rio de Janeiro are come Passengers in the Nocton. — It is singular enough that this Vessel sailed from England on the same Day we did from New South Wales. — She brings no News of any importance from England. — Agreeably to the invitation we had received, we landed this Day at 1. P.M. at St. Salvadore, and proceeded to the House of Mr. Pennell Esqr. Consul of this Port, his House being situated on the ridge of the Harbour near the Eastern Extremity of the Town. — We landed immediately under the House and had to walk up a very Steep Hill to it. — On our arrival there, we were received with much kindness by Mr. & Miss Pennell – Mrs. Pennell being in England. One large Room only (but they could spare no more) was allotted for the Sleeping, Dressing of Mrs. Macquarie, Lachlan and myself. — We took also a Man and Woman Servant with us. — We found Mr. & Mrs. Chamberlain – and Lieut. Chamberlain R. Artillery, living at Mr. Pennell's, they having landed on the arrival of the Packet from England yesterday; they were introduced to us, and we found them pleasant acquaintances. We had a large Party at Dinner at Mr. Pennell's. He had invited Major Taylor, Lt. Macquarie, Capt. Raine, and Doctr. Ramsay, who dined with us, besides his own Family which is numerous. — After Dinner - about 8 P.M. Mrs. M. Lachn. & myself, accompanied by Lt. Chamberlain and our own friends of the Surry, went to see a Portuguese Play and Opera performed at the Opera House. — The performance was rather below Par – and we came Home at 10. P.M. not much amazed. — We were conveyed in Cadeiras.
— Memo ! —, St. Salvador — Sunday Evening 5th May 1822! —
Monday 6. May 1822. We afterwards proceeded to wait on General Madeira the Commander in Chief and Governor. — We also met with a very kind reception from Him; tho', thro' mistake he was not appraised of my intention to visit Him. — We had a very large Party again to Dinner today at Mr. Pennell's – and a still larger Party of Ladies in the Evening. —
Tuesday 7. May! A French Frigate arrived in the Harbour this day from Rio de Janeiro. —
Wednesday 8. May 1822.
Vizt. After Breakfast, all our Pets and other Curiosities were shewn to our friends and were much admired by them. — They returned on shore between 12 and 1,O'Clock.
Thursday 9. May! We returned to Breakfast on board ship after our shopping Expedition – very much fatigued. —
Friday 10. May 1822. We first visited some of the shops, where we made a few more Purchases of some articles of ornamental Jewellery. We then proceeded in hired Cadeiras to Mr. Pennell's to take leave of our friends which having done – and also delivered my Letters to Mr. Chamberlain, for N.S. Wales; we set out to look at a Sugar Plantation and Manufactory about two miles to the Eastward of the Town of St. Salvadore; calling at the office (in Town) of Mr. Johnston the Merchant for a Guide to conduct us to the Plantation. — Mr. Wm. Mitchell, a fine young Lad attached to Mr. Johnston's accompanied us as a Guide in a Cadeira I hired for him. We had a very pleasant Ride to the Sugar Plantation, and Manufactory – which last we went through and examined – and saw the Sugar Cane growing along the face of an adjoining Hill. — We went about half a mile farther, beyond the Sugar Works, from whence we had a delightful Prospect of the adjoining Country, the Shipping in the Bay, and the Town of St. Salvadore. It was dark before we got back to Town to Mr. Johnston's Office, where we found Capt. Raine waiting for us, and the Boat being on shore and ready, we went immediately on board the Surry – where we arrived only a little before 8,O'Clock – very tired and very hungry; not having eat [sic] any thing since we Breakfasted on board Ship. — It must not be omitted that on our Halting at the Office of Mr. Johnston this afternoon to get a Guide to accompany us to the Sugar Plantation, we came out for a few minutes, of the Cadeiras, Lachlan leaving his fine large Hat, with some Bread and Bananas in it, in his Mama's Cadeira; but on returning again to these Machines, soon Lachlan's fine Hat & Provisions were not to be found. — In fact they had been stolen in the most barefaced manner the moment he quitted his Chair. This occurrence occasioned Lachlan in particular and his mother and myself also, much vexation; as the Hat was a remarkably fine Straw one, made in Chile on the West Coast of South America – and was given very lately by Capt. Raine as a Present to Lachlan. — Capt. Raine having now Settled all his accounts on shore, he has determined on sailing early tomorrow morning.
Saturday 11. May 1822. The Town of St. Salvador is beautifully situated stretching along the Ridge of a high Hill, which the Bay forms into a Crescent. It is a very large Town; is said to contain 140,000 Inhabitants; and is a Place of very considerable Trade; having many opulent English merchants residing in it. — Refreshments of all kinds are reasonable here; and easily procured. — The Wind being rather scant, we were obliged to stand away nearly South all this day and Night in order to clear the Land. —
Sunday. 12. May!
Monday 13. May! Towards Evening the Breeze freshened, and enabled us to haul more off the Land and steer a better course.
Tuesday 14. May!
Sunday 19. May! At 5. P.M. The Island of "Fernando-Noronha" (– a small Island whither the Portuguese Government of the Brazils transport their Convicts to –) was seen at a considerable distance about 25 miles North West of us. A Strange Sail was seen at the same time near the Island, but we continued our course without attempting to speak [to] her. — The Wind is from the South East.
Monday 20. May!!! He was only taken ill on Saturday morning last, and every possible attention was paid him by Doctr. Ramsay. His complaint was Cold and Fever but he never was at all considered in any Danger, and his Death was consequently as unexpected as it was sudden. He had gone on shore without any permission to St. Salvador on the Day before we sailed, and there got violently intoxicated with the ardent Poisonous spirits of that Place, to which, in part, his sudden Death is principally to be ascribed, and which we all sincerely lament; as, he was, in all other respects, a very well behaved man. — He had obtained from some time since an absolute Pardon (– being only under seven years sentence), and was now on his way Home to join his wife and Family; having embarked on board the Surry as my Cook for the voyage to England. —
Tuesday 21. May! An Inventory was afterwards [word missing] by Capt. Raine, in my presence and in that of all the Officers of the Ship, of all the Effects of the deceased – consisting only of a few Necessaries; the whole being locked up again in his own Chest, which was also Sealed with a List of its Contents; Capt. Raine retaining a Counterpart thereof – to be forwarded to the wife of the deceased. — We were this day at noon in Latd. 1.° 17' South; – so that we have every reason to hope we shall cross the Line tomorrow morning.
Wednesday 22. May!!! The usual ceremony of Neptune coming on board – shaving &c. &c. were dispensed with, our dear Lachlan and George's Infant, being the only Persons on board who had never crossed the Line before. — But to make amends to the Sailors for their disappointment in respect to this Ceremony, we treated them with a good Dinner and some Grog! — This day 13 years ! – I sailed with Mrs. M. from St. Helens in England for N. S. Wales on board the Dromedary!
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