Moored at number one buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind ENE force 1 to 2 with broken cloud and passing showers. Barometer 30.03 inches rising to 30.14 at noon before falling to 30.05 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 30.11 inches. Temperature at noon 84F. 0-40. Received 113 lbs of fresh beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 193 lbs of bread. Spread fires. 0730. At Fire Quarters. Dried night clothing. 0800. Italian Man-of-War arrived. 0930. Weighed and shifted berth. 0945. Let go on sandy bottom in 4 fathoms. Made stern fast to number 2 buoy. Cleaning ship. Let fires die out. Noon. Wind ENE force 1 with broken cloud. 1330. Employed painting and cleaning ship and as requisite. 1600. Special leave to starboard watch. 1700. Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 2 tons 4 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind ENE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.09 inches rising to 30.17 at noon before falling to 30.09 at 1700 and finishing at midnight at  30.19 inches. Temperature at noon 82F. 0400. Received 116 lbs of fresh beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 165 lbs of bread. 0545. Landed Small Arms Company and marines for drill. 0955. Prayers. Ordinary Seamen at cannon tube practice. Remainder employed painting ship. And as requisite. Noon. Wind ENE force 2. 1330. As in forenoon. 1600. Special leave to starboard watch. 1700. Mustered at quarters. Issued clean hammocks. Exercised “Out fire engine”. Scrub and wash clothes. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind ENE force 2 to 4 with broken cloud and squalls. Barometer 30.15 inches rising to 30.20 at noon before falling30.12 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 39.18 inches. Temperature at noon 81F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 182 lbs of bread.0600.Landed Small Arms Company and marines for drill. 0740. RIMS Minto arrived. 1000. Prayers. Ordinary Seamen at seamanship. Remainder painting ship and as requisite. Noon. Wind ENE force 2 to 3 with squalls. 1320. Ordinary Seamen and boys at small arms drill. Remainder painting or as requisite.  1600. Special leave to port watch. 1700. Mustered at quarters. 20.45. Exercised watch at arm and man ship. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind ENE force 1 to 2 with broken cloud and squalls. Barometer 30.14 inches rising to 30.22 at noon before falling to 30.14 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at  20.18 inches. Temperature at noon 81F. 0400. Received 118 lbs of fresh beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 164 lbs of bread. 0600. Landed Small arms Company and marines for drill. 1000. Prayers. Ordinary Seamen and boys at small arms drill. . Remainder painting and as requisite. Noon. Wind ENE force 2 to 3 with broken cloud. 1330. Ordinary Seamen and boys at seamanship. Remainder painting or as requisite. General leave to starboard watch. 1700. Mustered at Quarters. Exercised boats under oars.1800. Washed clothes. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind ENE force 1 to 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.21 inches falling to 30.09 inches at 1600 and remaining there until midnight. 0400. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 158 lbs of bread. 0510. HMS Marathon sailed. 0915. Divisions and prayers. Ordinary Seamen and boys at seamanship instruction. Remainder as requisite. 100. Lit fires in cutter. Noon.  1303. General leave to stokers and daymen. Make and mend clothes. 1600 Sent Marines to (?) (Unable to read handwriting) for night attack.  1700. Mustered at Quarters. 2210. Italian Man-of-War sailed. 2218. Party left ship in captured galleon (?). Midnight. RIMS Minto proceeded. Coal expended 11 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.07 inches rising to 30.15 at noon before falling to 30.03 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 30.09 inches. Temperature at noon 83F. 0140. Manned and armed boats. Sent away all available Small Arms men. 0400. Made an attack on Steamer Point. 0500. Boats returned from attack. 0815. Steam on (?)(Unable to read handwriting) fires. 0600. Veered to three shackles. Received 103 lbs of fresh beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 93 lbs of bread. 0915 Exercised Ship’s Company onboard. Inspected arms. 0945. Prayers.100. Exercised at General Quarters. Scrubbed canvas gear.

Noon. Wind ENE force 1. 1400. Employed cleaning boats, small gear and as requisite.  1600. Special leave to port watch. 1650. HMS Marathon arrive in to harbour. 1700. Mustered at Quarters. Out stream anchor and hawsers. 1730 HMS Plessey arrived. Scrubbed hammocks and washed clothes. Coal expended 10 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind ENE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.08 inches rising to 30.15 at noon before falling to 30.06 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 30.16 inches. Temperature at noon 82F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 177 lbs of bread. 0730. Exercised at Fire Quarters. Aired night clothing. 0845. French despatch vessel SURPRISE arrived. 0940. Italian gunboat arrived. Cleaning ship throughout. Noon. Wind SE by S force 1. 1330. Cleaning ship. 1600. Special leave to port watch. 1700. Mustered at Quarters. Inspected clean hammocks. 1800. Italian gunboat sailed. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind E by N force 1 with overcast sky. Barometer 30.14 inches rising to 30.20 at 0800 before falling to 30.13 at 1600 and finishing a midnight at 30.15 inches. Temperature at noon 81F.  0400. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 ls of vegetables plus 138 lbs of bread. 0600. Landed Small Arms Company and marines. 0800. Employed cleaning ship. Watch of stokers at rifle drill. Noon. Wind ENE force 1 to 2 with broken cloud.  1330. Employed cleaning out boats and as requisite. Watch of stokers at rifle drill. 1600 Landed field and machine gun crews.  1700. Mustered at Quarters. Washed clothes. 1900 HMS Plassey sailed. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind ENE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.10 inches rising to 30.15 at 0800 before falling to 30.07 at 200 and finishing at midnight at 30.10 inches. Temperature at noon 80F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 152 lbs of bread. 0800. Commander H.C. Reynolds and Lieutenant Commander Brendon joined the ship from Mail steamer. Hands mustered by Open List. Party of stokers at rifle exercise. Noon. Wind SE force 1 to 2. 1330. Ordinary Seamen ad boys at seamanship instruction. Party of stokers at rifle exercise. Special leave to starboard watch1700. Mustered at Quarters. 1710. Drew fires in cutter. Exercise – Out fire engine. 2045. Watch manned and armed ship. Coal expended 11 cwt. Number on sick list –Nil

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind ENE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.08 inches rising to 30.13  at 0800 before falling to 30.06 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 30.08 inches. Temperature at noon 80F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 165 lbs of bread. 0600. Landed Small Arms Company and Marines for drill. 0930. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. Class of stokers at rifle drill. Ordinary Seamen and boys at seamanship and signals. Hands employed as requisite. 1330. Party exercising firing cannon tube. Party of stokers at rifle drill. Ordinary Seamen and boys at seamanship. Sent boats away sailing. Landed party of stokers for rifle drill. Gave general leave to port watch. 1700. Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list – Nil.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.08 inches rising to 30.17 at noon before falling to 30.08 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 20.16 inches. Temperature at noon 85F.  0400. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 131 lbs of bread. Lit fires in steam cutter. 0800. Water tank came alongside. 0915. Mustered by Divisions and read prayers. 1000. Discharged Captain M.B. Fisher and Lieutenant Makaria (?) to mail steamer for passage to England.  Ordinary Seamen and boys a t cannon tube practice. Remainder employed as requisite. Noon. Wind ENE force 1 with broken cloud. General leave to starboard watch.  Make and mend clothes. 1700. Mustered at Quarters. Out diving gear. Drew fires from steam cutter. Coal expended 9 cwt. Number on sick list – Nil

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.15 inches rising to 30.19 at 0800 before falling to 30.19 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 30.05 inches. Temperature at noon 85F. Divers examining ship’s bottom.  Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 141 lbs of bread. 0915. Mustered at Divisions and read prayers. 0930. Exercised at General Quarters. 1030. Employed scrubbing canvas gear. Noon. Wind ENE force 1. 1330. Party clearing Quick Fire magazine, Remainder as requisite. Ave special leave to port watch. 1700 Mustered at Quarters. Coal expended 7 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.10 inches rising to 30.15 at noon before falling to 30.08 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 30.09 inches. Temperature at noon 78F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 112 lbs of bread. 0730. Exercised Fire Quarters. 0800. Aired night clothing.  Cleaning ship throughout. Tested life buoys. Noon. Wind NNE force 1. 1400. HMS Flora arrived

HMS Flora was an Astraea-class cruiser of the Royal Navy launched on 21 November 1893. She was constructed under the Naval Defence Act 1889 along with several other Astraea-class cruisers. Flora was decommissioned in 1922.

Employed as requisite. 1700. Mustered at q

Quarters. 1910. HMS Flora proceeded. 2115. Shortened in to 2 shackles. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.08 inches rising to 30.12 at 0800 before falling to 30.05 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 30.09 inches. Temperature at noon 80F. 0400. Lit fires in cutter. 0600. Sent church parties ashore. Received 141 lbs of bread. 0930. Mustered by Divisions. 1030. Performed Divine Service. Noon. Wind SE force 1. Gave special leave to starboard watch. 1700. Mustered at Quarters. 1730. Drew fires in steam cutter. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind north force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.10 inches rising to 30.23 at noon before falling to 30.18 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 30.22. Temperature at noon 85F. 0600. Exercised – out bow anchor. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 141 lbs of bread. #water tank came alongside to water ship. 0840. Veered to 3 shackles. 0850. RMS Minto arrived. 0930. Mustered at Divisions and read prayers. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind ENE force 2. 1400. Lost overboard by accident one hammock. Landed field and machine guns crews for drill. 1700 Mustered at Quarters. Mr Jennings – Gunner and one ERA re-joined from the hospital. 1800. RIMS Minto proceeded. Shortened in to 2 ¼ shackles. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind E by N force 2 to 3. With broken cloud. Barometer 30.20 inches rising to 390. 25 at 000 before falling to 30.17 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 30.25. Temperature at noon. 83F. 0600. Landed Small Arms Company and Marines for drill. Received 129 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 148 lbs of bread.  0800. Landing party returned. Stokers at rifle drill. Cleaning ship. Noon. Wind ENE force 1 to 3 with overcast sky. Employed as requisite. 1600. Landed field gun crews and machine guns crew   for drill and quarterly target practice. Special leave to port watch to 0600. Coal expended 8 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind east force 2 to 4 with broken cloud and squalls. Barometer 30.18 rising to 30.27 at noon before falling to 30.12 at 15000 and finishing at midnight at 30.13 inches. Temperature at noon. 80F. 0001. Preparing for sea. Lit fires in 1 and 2 boilers. 0400. Draught of water forward 14 feet 6 inches. Aft 15 feet 9 inches. 0515. Shortened in to 1 ½ shackles. 0610. Weighed and proceed as requisite out of harbour. 0615. Put over P Log. Increased to full speed – 109 revolutions 12 knots.  0640. Course S75W. 0658. Stopped starboard engine. 0730. Proceeded at full speed with both engines.  0930. Mustered at Divisions and read prayers. Marines marching Order Parade.1130. Change course to S64W. 1140. Put clock back 10 minutes. Noon. Position 12.21 ½ N 45.48E. Wind Se force 3.  1230. Altered course to N24W. 1245. Altered course to N48W. 1330. Altered course to N24W. 1415.  Course and speed as required for entering Peruin (?) (Unable to read handwriting) Harbour. Came to in 6 fathoms with pebble bottom and veered to 3 shackles. 1530. Shortened in. 1535. Weighed. Proceeded out of harbour 1553. 109 revolutions. 1551. Put P Log over the side. 1604. Shaped to N34W. 1740 Sighted RMS Orotava aground flying distress signals. Altered course as requisite for closing. 1812. Eased to slow. Sounded in 8 fathoms 1824. Came to in 8 fathoms with pebble bottom and veered to 5 shackles. OROTAVA bearing S52W. Sent seaboat to her. 2150. Seaboat returned and hoisted inboard. Coal expended 23 tons 19 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

At single anchor standing off RMS Orotava Reef. 12.5N 43.3E.

Wind SE by S force 5 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.15 inches steady until 1600 when reading 30.09 and finishing at midnight at 30.13 inches. Temperature at noon 79F sea temperature 72F.

0645. Shortened in.
0650 Weighed and proceeded slow both. Course as requisite for closing Orotava.
0700 Lowered Seaboat for sounding.
0725. Stopped. Anchored in 5 fathoms with pebbles.
0730. Anchorage bearing Orotava N86W. Rahaita Bluff S9E. Sent Seaboat away sounding.
0740. Weighed course as requisite for closing to Oratava.
0810. Came to in 5 ½ fathoms with pebble bottom and veered to 7 shackles.. Anchorage Orotava N79W Rahaita Bluff S14E.magnetic.Sent boats with hawser to Orotava.
0950. Veered to 11 shackles. 100. Hauled in and secured 5 inch wire from Orotava to starboard towing bollard.
1130 Shortened in to 10 shackles. Noon. Position 12.52N 23.3E Wind SE by E force 5 to 6 with broken cloud and squalls.
1300. Shortened in to 9 shackles.
1415. Let go SA under fort. Orotava’s stern S86W Rahaita Bluff S12E. Coal expended 8 tons 18 cwt. Number on sick list 3.