Diary of James Qualtrough, written of board the "MERMAID" which sailed from Liverpool UK, on 11 July 1859 and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand on 19 October 1859.

For the Mermaid Passenger List Click Here

For the Map of the Voyage Click Here

Monday 17th: Yesterday, Sabbath morning, I rose at 3 o’clock and went up on deck (the poop). The chief mate asked me "Could I not sleep?" I told him: "My sleep was irregular". We expected on deck to have Service as usual but we saw the first ship since 18th August and the first uninhabited land since we saw Madeira and the attention of the passengers was taken up very much by them.

We kept our Service in the Intermediate. I was up in the forecastle when the bell was ringing for the service, when the boatswain called out with a fiend-like voice: "We have had enough of that D….D bell." We saw the ship this morning (Monday) on our lee but before 12 we left her out of sight. On the tack towards shore we were spying the land. The tops of the hills seemed full of trees, the coast very rocky.

Tuesday 18th: We are surrounded with coast fowls, from the Islands, all around, of which I think there are some dozens in number. Some small smacks and wherrys trading on the coast. The signals from hill to hill to tell a ship has reached Auckland now. The first ship that came within hearing, the Captain called, "What ships are in Auckland?" He was pleased to hear the MAORI was not in.

Wednesday 19th: About 10 o’clock last night, after we had anchored, the pilot came on board. This morning we got near the wharf in good health.

James Qualtrough

© Copyright by Malcolm Qualtrough, Elizabeth Feisst and the late John Karran Qualtrough.