At sea Colombo to Trincomalee Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Course NE at 2.8 knots with a smooth sea.  Wind north force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.98 inches rising to 30.04 at 0800 before falling to 29.97 at 1400 and finishing at 30.01 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F.  0100. Altered course to N12E at 8.2 knots. Exercised sea boats crews. Exercised close watertight doors. 0300. Sounded in 19 fathoms. 0400. Sounded in 17 fathoms. 0500. Sounded in 75 fathoms. 0515. Altered course to N5W at 8.7 knots. 0600. Altered course to N31W at 12 knots. 0900. Divisions and prayers. Seamen Gunners at rifle exercise. Marines at small arms drill. 1000. Altered course to N35W at 11.6 knots. 1120. Altered course to N20W. 1135. Finished passage trial. Eased to 85 revolutions. Noon. Position 8.19N. 81.30E at 7.4 knots Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud. 1300. Proceed as requisite for Trincomalee. 1440. Came to. P.Sand. in 13 fathoms and veered to 4 shackles. Draught 13 feet 0 inches forward. 14 feet 10 inches aft. Employed as requisite. 1600 Drew fires in 2, 5, 7 and 4 boilers. Distilling with number 1 boiler. 1700. Quarters. Special leave to starboard watch. Coal expended 21 tons 17 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

At anchor at Trincomalee. Wind SSW force 1 increasing to force 3 at 0800 before decreasing to force 1 for the rest of the day. Broken cloud with lightning at 1600.  Passing showers from 1600 to midnight. Barometer 30.00 inches falling to 29.94 at noon and finishing the same at midnight. Temperature at noon 81F. 0200. Received 118 lbs of beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 11lbs of bread. 0800. Prepared for coaling. Employed as requisite. 1600. Coal lighter came alongside. 1700. Quarters General leave to port watch. Midnight. Finished distilling. Let fires die out. Coal expended 4 tons 10 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

At anchor at Trincomalee. Wind SW force 2 with broken cloud becoming SSW with thunder, lightning and passing showers at 2200. Barometer 29.87 inches rising to 29.91 at 0800 and finishing at 29.89 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 90F. 0400. Received 114 lbs of beef and 57 lbs of vegetables plus 202 lbs of bread.  0800. Provision ship. Employed painting ship. Noon. HMS Eclipse arrived flying flag of C-in-C. Saluted C-in-C with 13 guns. ECLIPSE returned – 7 guns. Mr T.A. A. TeiVeen Engineer from ECLIPSE. 1800. Special leave to port watch. Quarters. Discharged one Leading Stoker to hospital. Midnight. Raised steam in number one boiler. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

At anchor at Trincomalee. Wind SW force 1 to 2 with broken cloud becoming force 2 to 3 from WSW with lightning and thunder 1600 before becoming calm at 2200. Barometer 29.86 inches rising to 29.89 0400 then rising to 29.88 at 2000 before finishing at 29.86 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 91F. 0400. Received 122 lbs of beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 203 lbs of bread.  0600. ECLIPSE proceeded. 0930. Weighed and proceeded for shifting berth. 1020. Came to on broken bottom and veered to 5 shackles. 1030. Let go stream anchor. Moored three on each. Open hawse to NW. 1300. Let fires die out. Painting ship. 1800. Special leave to port watch.  Quarters. Anchor bearings. First anchorage. D.Y. flag staff S4W. Round Point N79W.   Second anchorage D.Y flag staff S9W. Round point N81W. Coal expended 2 tons. Number on sick list 3.

Moored at Trincomalee. Wind SW force 1 to 3 with broken cloud becoming calm with passing shower slater. Wind increased to force 3 to 4 at midnight.  Barometer 29.86 inches rising to 29.95 at 0400 and finishing at 29.97 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of bread and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 198 lbs of bread. 0800. HMS lapwing arrived and moored. Noon cleaning ship. 1600. General leave to port watch. Quarters. One Petty Officer Electrical returned from Sick Quarters. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

Moored at Trincomalee. Wind SW force 1 to 2 with overcast sky becoming a steady force 2 with broken cloud later. Barometer 29.93 inches rising to 29.95 at noon and finishing at 29.96 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 85F. 0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 209 lbs of bread. 0930. C-in-C came onboard to inspect ship. Exercised General Quarters. – Boarders. Port Watch Man and arm ship. Starboard watch out collision mat.  Exercised man and arm boats. 1215. C-in-C left ship. Make and mend clothes. 1600. Special leave to starboard watch and port watch of Boys.  Major H. Rush inspected a detachment of Marines. Divers examining ship’s bottom. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 2.

Moored at Trincomalee. Wind SW force 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 24.93 inches rising to 29.99 at 0800 before falling to 29.93 at 1600 and finishing at 29.96 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F.  0500. Raised steam in all boilers. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 466 lbs of bread. 0700. Divers examining the ship’s bottom. 0900. Second class Stoker returned from Sick Quarters. 1000. Discharged Mr R. St. J. Young – clerk – to LAPWING. 1400. Unmoored. Weighed starboard anchor. 1500. Weighed. Proceeded as requisite out of harbour. 1520 85 revolutions. Wind SSW force 2 to 3 with overcast sky. 1600. Lighthouse abeam. 1605. Put P. Log over. Course S75E. Connected hand steering gear.  1700. Quarters. 1730. Altered course to SSE ½ E. 1800. Course S28E. 2000. Wind SW force 2 with lightening followed by sleet.  2130. Sounded in 52 fathoms. 2200. Exercised sea boats crews. Exercised close watertight doors. 2330. Sounded in 50 fathoms.  Coal expended 13 tons 11 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

At sea. Trincomalee to Colombo. Course S28E at 7.5 knots. Wind south force 2. Overcast sky and slight swell. Barometer 29.93 inches rising to 30.03 at 0800 before falling to 29.99 at 1600 and finishing at 30.04 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 83F. 0015. Altered course to S8E. -130. Sounded in 60 fathoms. 0200. Exercised Sea boats crews. Exercised close watertight doors. 0330. Sounded in 60 fathoms. 0410. Altered course to S22W at 8 knots. 0700. Altered course to S34W. Wind SW force 3 to 4. 0830. Altered course to SW. 0918. Altered course WSW. 1000. Divisions. Performed Divine Service. 11. Sighted lighthouse N74W. 1118. Altered course to W by S. Noon. Wind WSW force 4 to 6. Overcast gloomy weather. Position 6.4N 81.33E. 1600. Wind west force 3 to 4 with moderate sea. 1700. Quarters. 1730. Sighted Dondra Head Lighthouse N86W. 1800. Altered course to W by S ½ S. 1900. Dondra Lighthouse abeam.

Dondra Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on Dondra Head, Dondra, the southernmost point in Sri Lanka and is Sri Lanka’s tallest lighthouse, and also one of the tallest in South East Asia. Dondra Head lighthouse is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority

2100. Altered course to N78W. 2220. Galle Lighthouse abeam.

Located in: Galle Dutch Fort Address: Galle 80000, Sri Lanka Height: 26 m Opened: 1848 Range: 87,044 m

 Exercised Seaboat crews. 2300. Altered course to N51W. Exercised close watertight doors. Coal expended 23 tons 4 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

At sea. Trincomalee to Colombo. Course N51W 8.3 knots. Wind WSW force 4 to 5 with overcast sky and gloomy weather. Moderate sea becoming slight. Barometer 29.95 inches rising to 30.02 at noon before dropping to 29.96 at 1600 and finishing at 30.04 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 85F. 0100. Altered course to N 23 W. 0145. Reduced to 65 revolutions. Sounded in 100 fathoms. 0215. Lighthouse NE ½ N. 0230. Increased to 85 revolutions. 0245. Altered course to N14W. 0400. Light house abeam.  0610. Altered course to N28E at 7.5 knots. 0720. Sighted Colombo Lighthouse N54E.

The tower was constructed as a clock tower in 1856-57 and completed on the 25 February 1857.[1] The tower was designed by Emily Elizabeth Ward, the wife of Governor Sir Henry George Ward (1797 – 1860).[1][2] The construction was undertaken by the Public Works Department, under the supervision of Mr John Flemming Churchill (Director General of Public Works). The 29-metre-high (95 ft) tower was the tallest structure in Colombo at that time.[3] The original clock was commissioned for £1,200 in 1814 by the then Governor Sir Robert Brownrigg (1759 – 1833) but was kept in a warehouse, due to economic reasons, until 1857 when it was finally installed.

The lighthouse was deactivated after its light became obscured by nearby buildings and was decommissioned on 12 July 1952.[4] The modern Galle Buck Lighthouse was erected on Marine Drive as its replacement

 Hauled in P. Log. Connected steam wheel. Altered course as requisite for harbour. Engines as requisite. 0830. Stopped – picked up pilot. Proceeded up harbour in charge of pilot.0855. Let go starboard anchor. 0900. Let go port anchor. Laid out stream anchor astern. 1000. Pilot left ship. Banked fires in 2, 3 and 4 boilers. Distilling with number 4 boiler. Employed as requisite. Draught 13 feet 10 inches forward. 16 feet 2 inches aft. 1300. HMS Bellerophon at anchor. (HMS Bellerophon was a central battery ironclad built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1860s.) Japanese battleship “FIJI” at anchor. French gunboat at anchor. Make and mend clothes. 1700. Quarters. Hands bathed. Coal expended 12 tons 8 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored in Colombo Harbour. Wind W force 2 to 4 with squalls. Barometer 29.97 inches rising to 30.00 at 0800 and to 30.03 at midday before falling to 29.94 at 1600 and finishing at 30.02 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F.  0400. Received 120 lbs of beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 642 lbs of bread.  0800. Marines at drill. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind west force 3 with broken cloud. Draught 14 feet forward. 15 feet 11 inches aft. 1300. His Excellency the Lt Governor of Ceylon embarked. In stream anchor. 1400. Weighed port anchor. 1500. Weighed starboard anchor. Proceeded as requisite out of harbour.  1535. Course S72W at 85 revolutions – 8.2 knots. Put P. log over the side.  Connected hand wheel. 1700. Quarters. Exercised Fire Quarters. 2200. Exercised sea boat crews. 2300. Exercised close watertight doors. Coal expended 12 tons. Number on sick list 4.

At sea. Colombo to Mali. Course S72W at 8 knots with a moderate sea. Wind force 5. Overcast sky with squalls. Barometer 30.01 inches rising to 30.05 at noon and finishing at 30.09 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 79F. 0200. Exercised sea boats crews. Exercised close watertight doors. 0800. Divisions and prayers. Dropped target. 0950 Altered course as requisite for firing. Engines as requisite. Exercised firing at target from Quick Fire guns. Carried out short practice. 1100. Finished firing. 1105. Course S72W at 85 revolutions – 7.8knots. Marines at aiming tube. Noon. Wind WSW force 6 with overcast sky, rain and squalls. Positions 6.8N 77.25E. 1300. Eased to 75 revolutions – 6.3 knots. 1400. Ordinary Seamen of starboard watch at seamanship and gunnery instruction. Remainder as requisite. 1700. Quarters. Read stations for exercise Fire Stations. 2105. Eased to 70 revolutions – 6.5 knots. 2200. Exercised sea boats crews. Exercised close watertight doors. Coal expended 19 tons 17 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

At sea. Colombo to Mali. Course S72W at 6.4 knots with slight sea. Wind force 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.05 inches rising to 30.10 at noon and dropping to 30.05 at 1600 and finishing at 30.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 85F. 0200.  Exercised close watertight doors. Exercised sea boats crews. . 0900. Eased to 65 revolutions – 7.7 knots.  Put clock back 9 minutes. 100. Divisions and prayers. 1100. Exercised Small Arms Company. Eased to 55 revolutions – 5 knots. Noon. Wind west force 3 to 4 with broken cloud and squalls. Position 4.50N 74.49E. 1300. Altered course to S66W and eased to 45 revolutions – 4 knots. 1400. Make and mend clothes. 1700. Quarters. Exercised Fire Quarters. 1800. Sunset S87 ½ W. 2100. Hands man and arm ship.  Engines as requisite. Target put overboard. Exercised Nordenfelt firing from three pieces. 2130. Finished exercise. Course S66W at 45 revolutions – 4 knots. 2300. Exercised Close watertight doors.  Coal expended 13 tons 9 cwt. Number on sick list 5.

At sea. Colombo to Mali. Course S66W at 4 knots. With slight sea. Wind west force 3 with broke cloud becoming force 1 in afternoon. Barometer 30.05 inches rising to 30.10 at noon before dropping to 30.04 at 1600 and finishing at 30.11 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. 0200. Exercised sea boats crews. Exercised close watertight doors.  0545. Increased to 85 revolutions – 9 knots. 0625. Sighted Maldives on starboard bow. 0800. Altered course as requisite along edge of reef. 0815. Stopped and lowered sea boat. Communicated with Bagalo (Believed to be house on stilts). Up boat. 0845 Proceeded NNE at 85 revolutions. Divisions. Exercised General Quarters. 1010. Altered course for Mali. 1030. Altered course as requisite through reefs. 1140 Came to P.D. in 27 fathoms and veered to 8 shackles Saluted Sultan with 21 guns. Fort returned with 21 guns. .  Anchorage bearings.  North extension of Wilingeli SW ¾ W (Now called Villingili). Eastern extension of Kings Island. SE ¾ E Magnetic. 1300. Banked fires in numbers 1, 2 and 3 boilers. Distilling with number 4 boiler.  1400. Paid Monthly money to Ship’s company. Issued soap and tobacco. 1700. Quarters. Coal expended 9 tons 17 cwt. Number on sick list 5

At single anchor at Mali. Wind west force 2 with broken cloud and passing showers. Barometer 30.07 inches falling to 30.04 at noon before rising to 30.13 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F. 0800. Dressed ship rainbow fashion. Maldives ensign at main. 100. Employed as requisite. Noon. Wind force 2 to 3 with overcast sky and lightning. 1300. H.H.The Sultan of Maldives visited ship. Saluted him on approaching with 21 guns. Exercised Cutlass Men.  Firing Nordenfelt and fired two rounds from 6”.  Fired (Unable to read cramped handwriting). 1430. Sultan left ship. Saluted with 21 guns. 1540. Weighed and proceeded as requisite out of harbour. 1600. 85 revolutions. 1610. Course N66E. P. Log over side. Connected hand wheel. Altered course as required for adjusting compasses. 1700. Course N66E at 9.4knots. Quarters/ 2300. Exercised close watertight doors. Exercised Seaboat crews.  Coal expended 12 tons 6 cwt. Number on sick list 5.

At sea. Mali to Colombo. Course N66E at 9.3 knots with slight sea. Wind WSW force 3 with broken cloud and passing showers. Barometer 30.10 inches rising to 30.14 at 0800 before falling to 30.03 at 1600 and finishing at 30.09 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 82F. 0200. Exercised close watertight doors. Exercised seaboat’s crews. 0900. Divisions. Performed Divine Service.  Noon. Wind west force 3 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.10 inches. Position 5.15E 76.28N. Colombo 225 nautical miles away. 1600. Employed searching ship throughout. 2100. Exercised seaboat’s crews. Exercised close watertight doors. 2200. Put cock on 10 minutes. Coal expended 21 tons 14 cwt. Number on sick list 5.