Mauritius to Zanzibar. Course W1/2 N at 8.5 knots. Wind SSE force 5 with broken cloud and a slight swell. Barometer 30.20 inches rising to 30.24 at noon before falling to 20.14 at 1600 and finishing at 30.25 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 78F. 0500. Lost overboard by accident one hand lead. 0630. Scrubbed hammocks and washed clothes. 0730. Altered course to W by S. 0800. Reduced to 55 revolutions – 3.8 knots. 0915. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. Exercised at “Close Watertight doors” 1000. Sounded in 90 fathoms. 1100. Employed as requisite. Position at noon. 12.8S 47.41E Wind SSE force 3. 1230. Altered course to W by S ¾ S. Increased to 60 revolutions. 1400. Employed as requisite. 1700. Sounded in 100 fathoms. 1715. Mustered at General Quarters. Exercised stations “Out stream anchors and cables”. 20.30. Reduced to 60 revolutions – 6.8 knots. 2130. Sounded in 100 fathoms. Coal expended 19 tons 14 cwt. Number on sick list 14.

Mauritius to Zanzibar. Course W by S ¾ S. Wind west force 2 with broken cloud and passing showers. Barometer 20.19 inches rising to 30.25 at noon before falling to 30.10 at 1600 and finishing at 30.26 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 80F.0500. Altered course to NW ½ W. 0520. Connected third boiler and increased to 85 revolutions. 0615 Observed island NW by W. 0630. Altered course to NW by W. 0730. Altered course to WNW. 0830. Increased to 90 revolutions. 0915. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. Small arms companies at rifle drill. Course as requisite for anchorage off Zanzibar. 1000. Passed French cruiser D’Estaing.

The Lapérouse class was a type of barbette cruisers of the French Navy, with wooden hull and iron beams. These ships had plough bows with a forecastle, a displacement of 2,363 tons, a speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) and had a complement of 264 sailors. Armament was fifteen 140 mm (5.5 in) M1870M guns later replaced in Primauget with quick-firing conversions. Each ship also had eight 1-pounder revolvers

Employed as requisite. 1120. Stopped and came to off Zandy’s (?) Island in 18 fathoms and veered to 2 ½ shackles. Banked fires. Noon. French cruiser anchored. Anchorage bearings. Signal station 377E. Piers Zandy’s(?) Island N36E. 1300. Employed as requisite. Ordinary Seamen at signal instruction. 1600. Weighed and proceeded out of harbour steering as requisite. 1700 Mustered at Quarters. 1800. Shaped to N ¾ W. 2130. Connected 4^th boiler and commenced quarterly passage trial at 12 knots. Coal expended 25 tons 18 cwt. Number on sick list.11.

At sea. Course N ¾ W at 12.8 knots. Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 20.18 inches rising to 30.20 at noon and remaining steady until midnight. Temperature at noon 79F. 0400. Altered course to NW by ¼ N. 0800. Loosed fore and aft sales. 0915. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. 1000. Employed as requisite. Party at Morris Aiming Tube.

The Army and Navy accepted a Sub calibre conversion  for the Martini Henry on 14 November 1883, accepted formally in LOC 4552, 14^th February 1884. The ingenious design, was invented by Richard Morris of the Morris’s Aiming and Sighting tool Company, Morris’s device used an .230” caliber rifled tube, internally smooth from 16.5 inches of the breech, and then eight grooved rifled for the remainder of the bore. The 34” tube was designed to fit loosely inside the .450” diameter barrel of the Martini rifle. It gave the marksman an opportunity to shoot with his regulation arm, with its normal weight and balance issues, but without the heavy recoil, a frequent reason for inaccuracy as the soldier tended to anticipate its report.

 The “Morris Aiming Tube” as it became known had a bronze  “set nut” attached to the muzzle of the tube, to supplement the tube, two bushes, one sliding and one fixed behind the set nut centered the tube into the bore of the rifle. A “Breech piece”, which was dimensionally that of the .577/450 cartridge chamber, was inserted into the chamber over the extractor like a cartridge and held by a special key tool or “Key”, whilst the key held the tube, in the correct position. (a letter T was stamped on the front of the breech piece) the Morris tube was simply screwed into it from the front by the set nut and locked into position. The action of the rifles extractor acted upon a sliding extractor in the sub calibre base, which in turn ejected the spent cartridge. In late December 1885, a carbine version of the Morris tube was introduced in list of Change 4938, with 22.5” inner tube.

Position at noon. 9.50S 43.19E at 12.5 knots. Wind NNE force 2. 1230. Altered course to NW ¾ N. 1500. Make and mend clothes. 1600. Furled fore and aft sails. 1715 Mustered at Quarters. Exercised “man and arm ship”. 1830. Washed clothes. Coal expended 38 tons 15 cwt. Number on sick list 8.

At sea. Course NW ¾ N at 12.5 knots. Wind NW force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.19 inches rising to 30.25 at noon before falling to 30.19 at 1600 and finishing at 30.18 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 83F. 0725. Observed Ras Kimbyi (?) NW by W. 0800. Course as requisite. 0915 Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. 0930. Reduced to 95 revolutions. Employed training out boats and as requisite. 1050. Reduced to 75 revolutions – 8.5 knots. Position at noon 6.21S 40.18E (Log shows 6.21S 30.18E which puts it on the mainland! There is a pencil mark changing it to 40.18) Wind SSE force 1. 1300. Made number to HMS Boadicea. 1325. Stopped and came to off Zanzibar in 10 fathoms and veered to 2 ½ shackles. Let fires die out in 3 boilers. Distilling with one boiler. Employed as requisite. Anchorage bearings. Ras Shangani S16E. Clock Tower S66E. Found here HMS Boadicea (Flag), HMS Stork. German corvette Carola

They were ordered to replace older sailing vessels that were no longer sufficient to protect German interests around the world. Intended for service in the German colonial empire, the ships were designed with a combination of steam and sail power for extended cruising range, and they were equipped with a battery of ten 15-centimeter (5.9 in) guns. Relying primarily on sail power for their long-range deployments, the ships were obsolescent before construction began.

1730. Mustered at Quarters. 2220. Sailed transport Somarto (?) Coal expended 29 tons 3 cwt. Number on sick list 9.

At anchor at Zanzibar. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.18 inches rising to 30.20 at 0800 before falling to 30.15 at 1600 and finishing at 30.17 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 85F. 0430. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables. 0600. HMS Boadicea struck Admirals Flag. 0730. Took the Guard. 08930. Employed cleaning ship throughout. Noon. Wind SW force 2. 1300. Cleaning ship. 1400. Let fires die out. 1700. HMS Boadicea sailed. 1715. Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 1 ton 17 cwt. Number on sick list 9

At anchor at Zanzibar. Wind SSE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer30.13 inches rising to 13.21 at noon before falling to 30.14 at 1600 and finishing at 30.20 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 77F. 0430. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables. 0530. Laid out stream anchors. 0615. Commenced coaling. 0900. Employed as requisite. Firing shot practice from 7 pounder gun and cannon tube from 6 inch breech loader. Noon. Wind SW by W force 1. PM as in forenoon. 1430. German cruiser Schwalbe arrived. 1540. HMS Mariner arrived. 1630. HMS Stork sailed. Wind WNW force 1. 2215. Finished coaling receiving 196 tons.

Ammunition expended:

20 x cartridges SC filled RML 7 pounder
200 x cartridges SA balls MH rifle
1 x shot case RML 7 pounder.
16 x shells cannon RML 7 pounder
2 x shells Fill. RML 7 pounder
1 x shell shrapnel RML 7 pounder
25 x tubes quick fire shot
1 x fuses 15 second ML

Rifled muzzle loader ammunition

These rifled muzzle loader guns were the first to incorporate the new “Woolwich” rifling system, a modification of the French system, of from 3 – 9 broad shallow grooves after Britain abandoned the Armstrong “shunt” rifling system in May 1865 : “…M.L. 7-inch guns in course of manufacture were rifled on this principle, upon which all of our heavy pieces since have been rifled. The 7-inch referred to, and introduced into the service in 1865, were the first of the so-called Woolwich guns, which then meant “wrought iron M.L. guns built up on Sir W. Armstrong’s principle, improved upon by hooking the coils over one another, and having solid ended steel barrels, rifled on the system shown above, for studded projectiles“.

All versions were constructed of a steel A tube surrounded by various numbers and thicknesses of wrought-iron coils. Rifling was 3 grooves with a uniform 1 turn in 35 calibres i.e. in 245 inches.

Coal expended 3 cwt. Number on sick list 9.

At anchor at Zanzibar. Wind ESE force 1 with broken cloud and passing showers. Barometer 30.20 inches rising to 30.24 at noon before falling to 30.16 at 1600 and finishing at 30.22 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 83F. Draught of water forward 14 feet. Aft 15 feet 8 inches. 0125. HMS Stork arrived. 0400. Lit fires and raised steam in two boilers. 0430. Washed clothes. 0510 German cruiser Schwalbe sailed. 0600. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetable. 0610. Loosed sails. 0800 German corvette Carola arrived. 0900. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. 1020. Weighed and proceeded out of harbour steering as requisite. Wind SW by S force 2. 1100. Employed variously. Position at noon. 6.19S 39.5E Wind W force 2. Observed German cruiser Schwalbe at anchor off Bagarrayo (?). 1300. Lost overboard by accident one hand lead. Sent party to Prize firing at target on Mbroakuni (?) reef. 1500. Laying marker buoys and as requisite. Wind SE force 2 to 3. 1815. Came to in 11 fathoms and veered to 3 shackles. Banked fires. Anchorage bearing. Bagarrayo S 49W. Land lay S72E magnetic. Coal expended 8 tons 7 cwt. Number on sick list 9.

At anchor off Mbroakuni Reef (?). Wind S by E force 1with broken cloud. Barometer 30.20 inches falling to 30.14 at 1600 before finishing at 30.22 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 82F. 0545. Weighed –. 0600. Exercised at General Quarters. Firing – Annual Prize firing at target. Steaming and steering as necessary. 0900. German corvette Corola passed heading for Bagarraya (?) 100. Finished Prize Firing. Fired remainder of quarterly ammunition.

Expended ammunition.

48 x Cartridges S.C. 6 inch breech loader 21 lbs.
48 x Short Pallister 6 inch Breech load 21 lbs.
64 x Cartridge 3 pounder quick fire common shell
16 x Cartridge 3 pounder quick fire steel shell

1100. Observed HMS Pigeon to starboard. Noon. Wind SSE force. Picked up marker buoys. Lost by accident one mooring buoy. Noon position. Off Mbroakuni. Reef (?). 1225. Came to in 11 fathoms and veered to 3 shackles.14.30. HMS Pigeon anchored. 1530. Weighed. 1545. Proceeded for Zanzibar. Wind E by S force 3 to 5. 1715. Mustered at Quarters. 1800. Made number to HMS Boadicea. 1850. Came to off Zanzibar in q

12 fathoms and veered to 2 ½ shackles. Banked fires. Found here HMS Boadicea, MARINER, STORK, Transport SAMALE and French sloop Bouret. Anchorage bearings. Ras Shangani.S15E. Clock tower S70E magnetic. Coal expended 10 tons 6 cwt. Number on sick list 12.

At anchor at Zanzibar. Wind south force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.19 inches rising to 30.22 a7 0800 before falling to 30.18 at 2000 and finishing at 30.18 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 79F. Sea temperature 87F. Draught of water forward. 13 feet 8 inches. Aft 15 feet 10 inches. 0800. Weighed. 0815. Proceeded out of harbour for Chaki Chaki Bay Pemba Island. Steering as requisite for North Channel. Pased Austrian Corvette Ainora. 0915. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. Exercised at General Quarters. Employed scrubbing canvas and as requisite. 1145. Ras Nungwi SE by E 4 ½ miles. Shaped course NE by E at 7 knots. Position at noon 5.41S 39.14E. Wind NW force 2. 1300. Made number to HMS Algerine 1400. Altered course as requisite to communicate with ALGERINE 1520. Stopped. 1535. Proceeded for Chake Chake Bay steering as requisite. 1630. Eased to slow. 1715. Mustered at Quarters. 1735. Soundings decreased to 5 ½ fathoms. Stopped engines. Ship took the ground. Position of going aground. Ras Tussda?????? (Cannot read handwriting) S5E. Northerly extent of Misali Island N80W. Dangu Kudu N9W. Magnetic. Went astern full speed. Stopped. Lowered boats. ALGERINE anchored on port quarter. Laid out stern hawser to her. 1825. Went astern full speed with ALGRINE towing. 1845. Stopped. 2000. Lit fires and raised steam in 3 boilers. 2210. Ship floated. Slipped hawser and came to in 16 fathoms and veered to 4 shackles. Banked fires. Anchorage bearings. South extension of Misali Island west. 3 islets reef N35 west magnetic. Coal expended14 tons 19 cwt. Number on sick list 12.

At anchor off Chake Chake Bay. Wind SE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.16 inches rising to 30.22 at 0800 before falling to 30.13 at 1600 and finishing at 30.17 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 80F. 0600. Detached Jolly boat and whaler for blockade. 0800. Weighed. 0810. Proceeded out of anchorage. 0910. Increased to 85 revolutions. 0920. Shaped to SW ¼ S. Cleaning ship throughout. 1100. Observed Zanzibar Island on port bow. Position at noon. 5.55S 39.17E. 1300. Course as requisite for Zanzibar.. 1400. Cleaning ship. 1600. Stopped and came to off Zanzibar. 1650. Weighed and shifted berth. 1710. Came to in 12 fathoms and veered to 2 shackles. Let fires die out in two boilers. Distilling with one boiler. Found here HMS Boadicea (Flag), MARINER, STORK SOMALI, PIGEON. Austrian corvette Aurora and French sloop Bouret. 1920. Exercised electric searchlight. Coal expended 12 tons 14 cwt. Number on sick list 10.

At anchor off Zanzibar. Wind calm force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.16 inches rising to 30.23 at 0800 before falling to 30.13 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 30.18 inches. No noon temperature given. 0400. Received 110 lbs of fresh beef and 55 lbs of vegetables. 0530. Divers down examining ships bottom. 0730. Took the Guard. Sent Roman Catholics to Chapel. 0945. Mustered by Divisions and performed Divine Service. Noon. Wind East force 2 with passing showers. . PM. Special leave to watch. 1715. Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 4 tons 3 cwt. Number on sick list 10.

At anchor off Zanzibar. Wind calm force 0 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.18 inches rising to 30.23 at 0800 before falling to 30.10 at 1600 and finishing at 30.12 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 87F. 0430. Received 110 lbs of fresh beef and 55 lbs of vegetables. . 0515. HMS Stork sailed. 0730. Weighed and shifted berth. Came to in 9 fathoms and veered to 2 shackles. 0800 BOADICEA relived the Guard. 0915. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. 0930. Employed as requisite. 100. Quick fire gun crews at drill. 100. STORK passed through anchorage going north. Noon. Wind SSW force 2. PM. Employed as requisite. 1600. Issued soap and tobacco to Ship’s Company. 1715. Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 4 tons 13 cwt. Number on sick list 10.

At anchor off Zanzibar. Wind SSE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.13 inches rising to 30.23 at noon before falling to 30.15 at 1600 with passing showers and finishing at 30.20 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 80F. 0430. Received 110 lbs of fresh beef and 55 lbs of vegetables. 0910. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. Employed as requisite. 1000. Starboard watch at gun drill. Noon. Wind SW force 1. Overcast with thunder. PM. Employed variously. 1430. Let fires die out. 1700. Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 2 tons 11 cwt. Number on sick list 11.

At anchor off Zanzibar. Wind SSE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.18 inches rising to 30.23 at noon before falling to 30.14 at 16000 and finishing at 30.22 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 83F. 0430. Received 110 lbs of beef and 55 lbs of vegetables. 0915. Mustered by divisions and read prayers. Exercised small arms men. 1000. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind S by W force 3 falling to force 1 during afternoon. PM. Employed as requisite. 1715. Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 3 cwt. Number on sick list 12.

At anchor off Zanzibar. Wind calm force 1 and overcast. Barometer 30.20 inches rising to 30.25 at 0800 before falling to 30.17 at 1600 and finishing at 30.28 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 82F. 0430. Received 110 lbs of fresh beef and 55 lbs of vegetables. 0730. Took the Guard. 0740 HMS Boadicea weighed and proceeded to the south. 0850. BOADICEA saluted Sultan with 21 guns. Sultan yacht Glasgow returned salute with same number.

His Highness’ Ship Glasgow was a royal yacht belonging to the Sultan of Zanzibar. She was built in the style of the British frigate HMS Glasgow which had visited the Sultan in 1873. Glasgow cost the Sultan £32,735 and contained several luxury features but failed to impress the Sultan and she lay at anchor in harbour at Zanzibar Town for much of her career.

0915. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. Marines at drill. Watch at cutlass drill. 0950. BOADICEA passed north. 1150. German corvette Corola arrived. Noon. Wind S by E force 2. 1330. Make and mend clothes. Privileged leave to watch. 1715. Mustered art Quarters. Coal expended 3 cwt. Number on sick list 10.

At anchor off Zanzibar. Wind calm force 0 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.20 inches rising to 30.24 at noon before falling to 30.16 at 1600 and finishing at 30.26 at midnight. Temperature at noon. 78F. 0430. Received 104 lbs of fresh beef and 52 lbs of vegetables. 0530. Washed clothes.0730. MARINER relieved the Guard. 0915. Mustered by divisions and read prayers. 0930. Exercised at General Quarters. 1000. Employed variously. Noon. Wind SSW force 1. 1420. HMS Pigeon sailed. 1400. Employed variously. 1715. Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 3 cwt. Number on sick list 10.

At anchor of Zanzibar. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.21 inches rising to 30.26 at 0800 before falling to 30.17 at 1600 and finishing at 30.20 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 82F. 0430. Received 104 lbs of fresh beef and 52 lbs of vegetables. 0730. Took the Guard. 0900. Employed cleaning ship throughout. Noon. Wind SSW force 2 with passing showers. PM cleaning ship as requisite. 1600. German cruiser Sperber arrived. 0440. German cruiser Schwalbe arrived. 1715. Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 3 cwt. Number on sick list 10.

At anchor off Zanzibar. Wind Calm force 1 Barometer 30.20 inches rising to 30.21 at noon before falling to 30.13 at 1600 and finishing at 30.18 at midnight. Temperature at noon 85F. 0430. Received 104 lbs of fresh beef and 52 lbs of vegetables. 0730. Mariner relieved the Guard. Sent Roman Catholics to Chapel. 0945. Mustered by Divisions and performed Divine Service. 1030. French cruiser D’Estaing arrived. Noon. Wind SW force 1. PM. Special leave to watch. 1715. Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 3 cwt. Number on sick list 11.