Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind WSW force 2 to 5 with broken clouds and squalls. Barometer 29.89 inches rising to 29.94 at noon and finishing at 29.91 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 78F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 207 lbs of bread. 0600. Landed Small Arms Company for drill. 100. Divisions and prayers. Training class at rifle drill. 1400. Drew Foretop mast from Customs. Training class at rifle drill. Exercised boats pulling. 1700. Quarters. General leave to starboard watch. Hands bathed. Coal expended 5 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind WSW force 3 to 5. Overcast with squalls and passing showers. Increasing to force 7 at 2000. Barometer 29.94 inches falling to 29.90 at noon before finishing at 29.95 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 80F.  0200. Received 118 lbs of beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 204 lb s of bread.  0800. Divisions and prayers. Employed as requisite. Noon. Gave general leave to port watch and Boys. Make and mend clothes. 1700. Quarters. Exercised watch at cutlass drill. Hands bathed. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind WSW force 4 to 6 with broken cloud, squalls and passing showers. Becoming force 2 later. Barometer 29.89 inches rising to 29.98 at noon before finishing at 29.97 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 82F. 0400. Received 118 lbs of beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 201 lb s of bread. 0800. Divisions and prayers. 1000. Exercised General Quarters. Out collision mats. Noon. Stokers at cutlass drill. Remainder as requisite.  1600. Special leave to starboard watch. 1700. Quarters. Exercised at cutlass drill. 2000. Exercised at man and arm ship. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind WSW force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.92 inches rising to 29.99 at noon and finishing at 29.98 inches at midnight.  Temperature at noon 86F. 0400. Received 118 lbs of beef and 59 lb s of vegetables plus 213 lbs of bread. 0600. Landed Small Arms Company for drill. 0800. Divisions and prayers. Exercised Duty Watch – Out stream anchor. Employed as requisite. 1400. Seamen Gunners at rifle drill. Captains of Guns and Coxswains of boats at engine instruction. 1700. Quarters. Hands bathed.  Exercised port watch at cutlass drill. Special leave to port watch. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind WSW force 2 to 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.94 inches rising to 29.97 at 1600 and finishing at 29.96 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 81F. 0400. Landed marines for drill. 0600. Received 114 lbs of beef and 57 lbs of vegetables plus 185 lbs of bread. 0800. Divisions and prayers. Seamen Gunners at rifle drill. Ordinary Seamen and Boys at boat pulling. Remainder as requisite. 1600. Special leave to starboard watch. 1700 Quarters. Exercise – Out fire engine.  Hands bathed. Coal expended5 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind WSW force 2 to 3 becoming SW force 2 with passing showers later. Barometer 29.93 inches rising to 29.96 at noon and finishing at 29.95 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 85F. 0400. Received 118 lbs of beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 214 lb s of bread. 0600. Landed Small Arms Company for drill. 0800. Divisions and prayers.  Read Stations – ”Clear for Action”. Seamen Gunners at rifle drill. Remainder as requisite. Paid monthly money to Ships Company. Issued Soap and tobacco. 1400. Seamen Gunners at rifle drill. Captains of Guns and Coxswains of boats at surgical instruction. Remainder as requisite. Ordinary Seamen and Boys at Signals. 1700. Quarters. General leave to port watch. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind WSW force 2 decreasing to force 2. Broken cloud with passing showers. Barometer 29.93 inches rising to 30.02 at noon and finishing at 29.99 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 80F. 0400. Received 118 lbs of beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 210 lbs of bread. 0800. Divisions and prayers.  Seamen Gunners at rifle drill. Ordinary Seamen at signals. Remainder as requisite.  1400. Make and mend clothes. General leave to starboard watch and starboard watch Boys. 1700. Quarters. Hands bathed. Coal expended 5 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind SW force1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.94 inches rising to 30.03 at noon and finishing at 29.98 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 84F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 196 lbs of bread.0800. Divisions and prayers. Exercised General Quarters – boarding and out collision mat. Employed as requisite.PM. Swayed and fidded Fore topmast. (When a mast has been swayed high enough the fid is then inserted and the mast rope relieved of the weight). 1700. Quarters. Hands bathed. Special leave to port watch. Coal expended 5 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind SSW becoming southerly about noon and then changing back to SW- all at force 1. Broken cloud with passing rain at 0800. Barometer 29.97 inches rising to 30.03 at noon and finishing at 30.03 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 82F. 0400. Received 118 lbs of beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 171 lbs of bread. 0600. Exercised Fire Quarters. Cleaning ship. PM. Cleaning sip. Special leave to starboard watch. 1700. Quarters. Hands bathed. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind SSE force 1 becoming SE later.  Increasing to force 2 from the SSW in the afternoon. Broken cloud with passing showers all day. Barometer 30.00 inches rising to 30.05 at noon and finishing at 30.05 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 82F.  0400. Raised steam in cutter. Received 195 lbs of bread. 0800. Sent church parties ashore.  Performed Divine Service. Commander J.M. Fraser DSO joined from P & O.  One D??? (?) (Unable to read handwriting) joined from P & O. Discharged Captain H.C. Reynolds to P 7 O for passage. Special leave to port watch and starboard watch boys. 1700. Quarters. 2225. Drew fires in cutter. Coal expended 8 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind SW force 2 to 3 easing to force 1 through the day with the wind WSW at midnight. Broken cloud with passing showers drying up by 0800 before starting again at 2200 accompanied by lightning. Barometer 30.05 inches rising to 30.14 at noon and finishing at 20.12 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 85F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 191 lbs of bread. 0600. Landed Small Arms Company for drill. 0800. Divisions and prayers.  Employed as requisite. 1400. Seamen Gunners at rifle drill.  1600. Tested fore lightning conductor. Special leave to starboard watch. 1700. Quarters. Exercised port watch at cutlass drill. Ordinary Seamen at signals. Hands bathed. . Port watch man and arm ship. Coal expended 5 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind SSE calm becoming force 1 from noon. Broken cloud with passing showers at 0800.  Barometer 30.05 inches rising to 30.11 at noon and finishing at 30.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 85F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 180 lbs of bread. 0600. Landed Marines for drill.080. Divisions and prayers. Seaman Gunners at rifle drill. Remainder as requisite. . Noon. Seaman Gunners at rifle drill. Ordinary Seaman and Boys at seamanship. Remainder as requisite. 1700. Quarters. Starboard watch – out fire engine.  Special leave to port watch. Hands bathed.  Starboard watch – Man and arm ship.  Coal expended 5 cwt. Number on sick list 5.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind SSE force 1 to 2 becoming SW at noon and SSW at 2000. Broken cloud with occasional passing showers. Barometer 30.03 inches rising to 30.05 at noon and finishing at 30.09 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F. 0200. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 195 lbs of bread.  0800. Divisions and prayers. Seamen Gunners at rifle drill Marines 6” gun drill. Remainder as requisite. 1400. Seaman Gunners at rifle drill. Remainder as requisite. General leave to starboard watch. 1700. Quarters. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind SSW force 2 with broken cloud and passing rain all morning. Barometer 30.00 inches rising to 30.02 at noon and finishing at 30.00 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 83F.  0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 206 lbs of bread. . 0645. Raised steam in cutter. 0800. Divisions and prayers. Seamen Gunners at rifle drill. Noon. General leave to port watch and starboard watch Boys.  14000. Make and mend clothes.  1800. Quarters. Hands bathed. 2130. Drew fires in cutter. Coal expended 4 cwt.  Number on sick list 4.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind SW force 2 to 3 decreasing to force 2 until midnight when it increased to force 4. Broken cloud until midnight when the sky became overcast with squalls and lightning. Barometer 29.99 inches rising to 30.02 at 0600 before falling to 29.94 at 1600 and finishing at 30.02 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F. 0400. Received 116 lbs of beef and 58 lbs of vegetables plus 190 lbs of bread.  0800. Divisions and prayers. Exercised General Quarters – boarders. Stokers at cutlass drill. 1400. Issued slopes to Ships Company. Coxswains of boats and Captains of Guns at surgical instruction. Special leave to starboard watch. 1700. Quarters. Coal expended 5 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind WSW force 3 to 4 with overcast sky with squalls and lightning turning to passing showers. Wind gradually dying through the day to force 1 at midnight. Barometer 29.93 inches rising to 30.02 at 0800 then to 30.04 at noon before finishing at this level at midnight. Temperature at noon 82F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 200 lbs of bread. 0600. Exercised Fire Quarters. Cleaning ship throughout. 1400. Special leave to port watch. 1600. Quarters.  Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind WSW force 2 dying to calm at midnight. Broken cloud with passing showers at 0800. Barometer 30.00 inches rising to 30.06 at 0800 and finishing at 30.02 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 84F. 0400. Received 229 lbs of bread. 0800. Sent Church parties ashore. 100. Mustered by the Open List Performed Divines Service. 1400. Special leave to starboard watch and starboard watch Boys. 1700. Quarters. Prepared for sea. Midnight. Lit fires in all boilers. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored head and stern in Colombo Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud. Bar0meter 29.98 rising to 30.04 at noon before falling to 30.02 at 1600 and finishing at 30.04 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 85F. 0200. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 465 lbs of bread. 0300. Prepared for sea. 0700. Weighed Port stream anchor. Rove ships (?) (Hand writing been written over) Draught 13 feet 10 inches forward. 15 feet 10 inches aft. 0800. Divisions and prayers. 0830. Shortened to 1 ¾ shackles. 1000. Weighed. Proceeded as requisite out of harbour. 10.30. Worked up for full speed trial. Put over P. Log. 1035. Course S14W. Put clock on 4 minutes. 1122. Commenced full speed trial. 5.5 knots. Connected hand steering wheel. Altered course to S12E. Noon. Position 643N 19.48E. Wind south force 1 to 2 with broken cloud and a slight swell from the SW. 1325. D (?) Lighthouse abeam.  (Hand writing difficult to read). 1345. Worked up for 4 knots full power trial.  1410. Commenced full power trial. 11.4 knots. Untrained men and boys at aiming (?) (Next word has faded). 1440. Altered course to S39E. 1540. Altered course to S69E at 13 knots. 1700. Altered course to S89E at10.8 knots. Quarters. Exercised General Quarters. 1750. Altered course to N72E. 18 10. Finished trial. Reduced to ¾ horse power. 1900. Altered course to N75E at 4 knots increasing to 11 knots. 1600. Watch man and arm ship. 2200. Exercised Night quarters. 2230. Altered course to NE. exercised sea boat crews. Exercised close all watertight doors. Coal expended 32 tons 1 cwt. Remaining coal stock 188 Tons 12 cwt. Number on sick list 3.