Log of the Iris, 1846-1848, Vol. II

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Journal

Barque Iris at anchor in Port Jackson

Thursday October 15th 1846 This twenty four hours commences with fresh gales from SE and so remaining through the night. At 8 AM the ship being ready for sea and the pilot on board we weighed anchor and steered for the mouth of the harbor. At 10 AM the wind hauling more easterly obliged the ship to come too [TO] in Watsons Bay. So here we are and here like to be. Thus ends the day.

Friday October 16th at anchor - Comes in with fresh gales from the S & E and so continues through the night. At 6 AM the wind hauling Westerly. Got underweig[H] and stood out to sea. Latter hours wind SE again. Steer by the wind ENE. At 12 Mer [MERIDIAN], P,t [PORT] Jackson WSW Dist [DISTANCE] 20 M [MILES]. Latt [LATITUDE] 33°.40" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro. [CHRONOMETER] 151°=50" East Long [LONGITUDE] by Lunar 151=48 East

Saturday October 17th Comes in with light winds from the SE by E. Steer by the wind to the N & E. Saw several finback whales. At 11 PM wind from ESE Tack ship to the SE. Latter hours wind from North and light. Steer E by S. Ends. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 33°=40" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro. [CHRONOMETER] 152°=22" East

Sunday October 18th This day begins with freshening breezes from the North. Steer E by S by compass. Middle and latter parts fine fresh gales and clear weather. Saw finbacks. Ends. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 34°=44" South Long. [LONGITUDE] by Chro. [CHRONOMETER] 154°=32" East

Monday October 19th All of this twenty four hours we have pleasant gales from the N. W.rly [NORTHWESTERLY]. Steer E by W with all sail set. Hands variously employed at ships duty. So ends. 34 Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 34°=51" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 1562°=50"

Barque Iris from Sydney to the

Remarks on board

Tuesday October 20th 1846 Fore part of these 24 hours fresh gales from the N & W attened [ATTENDED] with squalls of rain & thunder. Steer E by N. Middle part wind hauls to SE and blows fresh. Steer by the wind N,E,rly [NORTHEASTERLY]. So ends the day. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 34°=09" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 158°=51" East

Wednesday October 21rst This 24 hours we have fresh winds from the Eastward. Steer by the wind N.N.E. Spoke a topsail schooner from N. [NEW] Zealand bound to Sydney. Saw several humpback whales. Thus ends the twenty[-]first -- Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 32°=46" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 159°=31" East

Thursday October 22ond Comes in with fresh top gallant breezes from ENE. Steer by the wind N,rly [NORTHERLY] till [UNTIL] 4 PM then tack to the S & E. The wind hauling a point or two more Northerly. Saw a ship to the N,ward [NORTHWARD] standing W,ward [WESTWARD]. Ends the day. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 33°=42" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro. [CHRONOMETER] 160°=18" East

Friday October 23rd All of this 24 hours we have pleasant breezes from the N & E. Steer by the wind SE. Saw a great number of humpback whales but none of the right kine [KIND]. Ends the day. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 35°=09" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro. [CHRONOMETER] 161°=16" East

Saturday October 24th Commences with moderate breezes from NE. Steer by the wind E.SE. Middle part wind more N,rly [NORTHERLY]. Steer by the wind East & E by N. Latter part the same. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 35°=43" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro. [CHRONOMETER] 163°=23" East

Sunday October 25th All of these 24 hours we have fresh winds from the N,ward [NORTHWARD] [E by N CROSSED OUT] and cloudy weather. Steer by the wind E by N. At Mer [MERIDIAN] the winds haul Easterly. Thus ends the day. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 35°=57" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro. [CHRONOMETER] 166°=10" East

New Zealand Whale Ground

Remarks Monday October 26th 1846 This day commences with freshening gales from the Eastward. Steer by the wind to the S & E till [UNTIL] midnight then tack to the Northward. Latter hours strong gales. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 35°..57" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro. [CHRONOMETER] 165°=54" East

Tuesday October 27th All of these 24 hours fresh gales from the Eastward. Latter part thick rainy weather. Ship with double reefed top sails. Steer by the wind to the Northward. So ends the day -- Latt [LATITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 35°..00" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 166°=39" East

Wednesday October 28th Comes in with strong gales from the Eastward and increasing attended with rain. At 6 PM hove the ship too [TO] under a close reefed main top sail & fore sail. At 7 do. [DITTO = PM] the wind rising to a huricane [HURRICANE]. Furled the fore sail and main top sail, and took in the waist boat. Ship heading N by E. At 5 AM the the gale abating made sail and steer by the wind N.N.E. At 9 AM the wind hauling N,rly [NORTHERLY]. Tacked to the Eastward with a top gallant breeze. Saw a bark standing E,rly [EASTERLY]. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 34°=17" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 167°=02" East Lunar 167..=04 East

Thursday October 29th All of these 24 hours we have moderate winds from N.N.E. Steer by the wind to the Eastward. Saw nothing etc. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 34°..58" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro. [CHRONOMETER] 168°..43" East

Friday October 30th This day we have pleasant gales from the Northward. Steer by the wind to the Eastward. Saw several finbacks. Hands variously [EMPLOYED] at ships duty. Thus ends the day -- Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 34°..51" South -- Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro. [CHRONOMETER] [169 CROSSED OUT] 170°..14" East

Iris off the North Cape of New Zealand

Remarks on board

Saturday October 31rst 1846 This 24 hours we have top gallant breezes from the North. Steer by the wind to the Eastward. Saw nothing -- Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 34°=40" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro. [CHRONOMETER] 171°..44" East

Sunday November 1rst 1846 Comes in with light winds from the N & E and thick weather. Steering by the wind NE by E by compass. At 6 PM saw the land to the Westward of the North Cape bearing East Dist [DISTANCE] 15 miles. At 9 PM tacked ship to the Westward with a thick fog and light breeze from NWW. At 2 PM tack and steer NNE. At sunrise saw the Three Kings NW, and New Zealand SE. Steer NE with a light wind from NW. Weather clearing. Thus ends the day. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs [OBSERVATION] 34°=21" South -- Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro. [CHRONOMETER] 172°=53" East

Monday November 2ond Comes in with light winds from the N & W. Steering E by South. Middle & latter parts fresh from the S & W. Steer E.S.E. Saw the land near Cape Brenn [BRETT?]. So ends. Latt [LATITUDE] Obs [OBSERVATION] 34°=44" South -- Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro [CHRONOMETER] 175°=09" East

Tuesday November 3rd This 24 hours we have pleasant gales from the Southward and clear weather. Steer by the wind E by S. Saw and chased Blackfish but could not strike. Latt [LATITUDE] by Obs. [OBSERVATION] 35°..10" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Chro. [CHRONOMETER] 177°..07" East

Wednesday Nov. 4th All of this 24 hours we have light airs from the S,ward [SOUTHWARD]. Steer by the wind to the Eastward. Employed at setting up riging [RIGGING] and various other small jobs -- Latt [LATITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 35°=15" South Long [LONGITUDE] by Acct [ACCOUNT] 178°.00"