Anonymous log of a voyage on the brig Lady Denison in Torres Strait and New Guinea, November 1873-December 1874, and voyages on various vessels in the South Pacific and Torres Strait, September 1870-April 1875

MLMSS 7857

fonds

1 September 1870-5 April 1875

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Watercolours

840275

Microfilm : CY 4922, frames 45-121

0.05 metres of textual material (1 volume in box), including 8 loose leaves and 2 watercolour drawings

The log of the brig Lady Denison on a voyage for pearl shell and beche-de-mer in Torres Strait and New Guinea, 10 November 1873-9 December 1874, comprising 46 pages, is the longest single entry in this anonymous ship's log. Apparently by the mate on the voyage, the account includes observations of Cocoa Nut, Barra, Brothers, and Red islands; the settlement of Somerset at Cape York; Warriors Island; Redscar Head; Hood Point; Lette Island; 'Woody Island' and Sud Est Island in the Louisiades; the Calvados Islands; and returning to the Great Barrier Reef, with detailed descriptions of local people, the construction of canoes, the practicalities of navigation, fishing, and processing of beche-de-mer, and reflections on trade and missionary activity in the region, with two small text illustrations in ink, one of a reef off Brothers Island. The author's strong antipathy toward the captain, William Walton, and toward 'Beche le mer work', 'the meanest work connected with a sea life', is treated at length. Some of the fishing is undertaken in company with the cutter Enchantress (Colin Thomson, master) and the schooner Wikingen (John McCost (McCort?), master).

The journal also includes:

List of cargo loaded onto the schooner Prima Donna, 1 September-2 September 1870, and log of voyage of Prima Donna from Sydney to Noumea and then to Melbourne, 14 September 1870-11 March 1871
Log of Prima Donna from Melbourne to Saltwater River, Tasmania, 20 March-3 April 1871 (entered at opposite end of volume from the majority of the text)
Log of Prima Donna from Melbourne to Sydney via Warrnambool, 4 April-25 April 1871
Log of Prima Donna at Pyrmont and Patent Slip Wharf, Sydney, 3 May-16 May 1871 (entered at opposite end of volume from the majority of the text)
Log of brig Rebecca Jane from Sydney to San Francisco via Newcastle and returning to Sydney, 22 May 1871-27 October 1871
Log of brig Australia from Sydney to Nelson and Hokianga, New Zealand, via Newcastle, 29 November 1871-28 January 1872
Log of brig Lady Denison from Sydney to Mauritius and returning, 21 May 1872-17 September 1872
Log of Lady Denison from Sydney to Brisbane, then loading maize at Clarence River, returning to Brisbane, then loading pine logs at Richmond River on return voyage to Sydney, 8 October 1872-1 March 1873
Log of Lady Denison from Grafton to Noumea then to Maryborough, returning to Noumea, then to Isle of Pines and Maryborough, 17 March 1873-30 July 1873
Log of the Lady Denison on a pearl shell & beche-de-mer fishing voyage to Torres Strait & New Guinea, 10 November 1873-9 December 1874 (mentioned above)
Log of SS Somersetshire from Melbourne to a position across the Equator, 13 February-5 April 1875

Eight loose leaves of paper accompany the journal, including a list of stores; a list of office bearers of an unnamed company (3 leaves); lines of a draft letter; a promissory note made out to Mr Comyn and signed by Blanhart Etheridge, dated 10 March 1871, Melbourne; and vocabularies (2 leaves).

Two watercolour drawings depicting groups in indigenous dress, one set in an interior in an unspecified location, measuring 10.7 x 18.5 cm.; the other in a village setting, with accompanying text in a different 19th century hand to the journal, relating to the Sir James Hall group of islands off the coast of Korea (now Baengnyeong, Daecheong, Socheong and neighbouring islands); drawing measuring 11.4 x 16 cm. on sheet 19 x 22.7 cm., paper watermarked 'Whatman 1845'

Francis S. Comyn appears as First Officer, Chief Officer or Mate on all but two voyages in the log (i.e., all but Prima Donna, 20 March-3 April 1871, and SS Somersetshire, 13 February-5 April 1875, for which only partial crew lists are given; and the log of Prima Donna at Pyrmont and Patent Slip Wharf, Sydney, 3 May-16 May 1871, where no crew list given but Mr Comyn is mentioned in text).

The promissory note to Mr Comyn, signed Blanhart Etheridge, appears to be in the same hand as the journal. A journal entry dated 3 May 1871, "Capt. Flinn left for Melbourne leaving Mr Comyn in charge", seems inconsistent with the bearer of the promissory note, Mr Comyn, being the author of the journal and making out the promissory note in his own hand for Etheridge's signature. The promissory note is on paper matching that of the journal and may be a portion of some missing, apparently blank, pages. On verso is a brief list of clothing and manchester under heading "Mr Comyn". Etheridge is discounted as author of the journal by an entry noting his departure from the Rebecca Jane in San Francisco on 16 August 1871.

In the same journal entry (3 May 1871) the author states his position on the vessel: "The following is my statement as mate of the vessel as to the cargo and its condition". No crew list appears for this portion of the journal.

13 March 1874: "when anything aloft has to be done the mate must go up and do it ...". No mate appears in the crew list of this voyage; Comyn is listed as Chief Officer.

On the same voyage the author again refers to himself as mate, writing of the captain's remark, "You are altogether in a wrong position here you expected to be Commander": " ... why he should think I would come with him as Commander for mates wages I cannot make out however both the 2nd & myself are wearied of this work and wish this miserable voyage was over" (16 July 1874). Charles Johnson is 2nd Officer in the crew list after Francis S. Comyn, Chief Officer.