Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind NE by E force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.96 inches rising to 30.01 at 0800 and to 30.04 at noon before falling to 29.98 at 200 and finishing at 30.02 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F (97F at 1600). 0300. Raised steam in cutter. 0400. Received 122 lbs of fresh beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus153 lbs of soft bread. 0600. Party ashore preparing Nordenfelt gun for firing. 0800. Hands employed cleaning ship throughout. Noon. Wind NE force 2. 1315. Italian Man of War arrived and moored to buoy. She saluted with 21 guns and the shore battery replied.1600. Hands employed cleaning ship throughout. Drew fires in steam cutter. 1700. Quarters. Inspected clean hammocks. Coal expended 5 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind N by E force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.99 inches rising to 30.07 at 0800  before falling to 30.02 at 1600 and finishing at 30.02 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F. 0300. Raised steam in cutter.  0400. Received 122 lbs of fresh beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 154 lbs of soft bread. 0600. Party ashore at rifle range preparing targets for annual firing. 0800. Sent Roman Catholics to chapel. Sent Wesleyans to chapel. 0930 Divisions. Performed Divine Service.  Noon. Wind NE force 2 to 3. Gave General leave to watch until 0600 (25th) 1400. Raised steam in cutter. 1700. Landed party for rifle range. 2200. Ban ked fires in steam cutter. Coal expended 9cwt. Number on sick list 7.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind E by N force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.03 inches rising to 30.07 at 0800 and to 30.09 at noon before falling to 30.01 at 2000 and finishing at 30.02 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 81F. 0200. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus168 lbs of soft bread. 0330. Spread fires in steam cutter. P & O SS Britannia arrived with mail. 0930. P & O SS Britannia sailed. 1030. P & O SS Ganges sailed. 1045. Divisions and prayers. Hands employed as most requisite. Noon. Wind E by N force 1. 1400. Hands employed as requisite. 1430. HMS Mayo sailed with Governors flag at fore. Shore battery saluted with 13 guns. 1600. Gave Special leave to port watch until 0600. (26th) 1700. Quarters. Hands scrubbing hammocks and washing clothes. 1915. Drew fires in steam cutter. Coal expended 11 cwt. Number on sick list 7.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind ENE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.96 inches rising to 30.01 at 0800 and to 30.09 at noon before falling to 29.95 at 1600 and finishing at 29.92 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 83F. 0315. Raised steam in cutter. 0400. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 182 lbs of soft bread. 0750. Italian Man of War proceeded out of harbour. 1045. Divisions and prayers. Hands employed as requisite. Noon. Wind SE force 1. Hands employed cleaning boats and as requisite.  1630. Discharged G. Harding (Ordinary Seaman?) to hospital. (No reason given) Gave Special leave to starboard watch until 0600. (27th). 1700. Quarters. 1930. Drew fires in steam cutter.  Coal expended 9 cwt. Number on sick list 7.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind ENE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.95 inches rising to 29.97 at noon before finishing at 29.90 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 85F. 0330. Raised steam in in cutter. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 150 lbs of soft bread. 1045. Divisions and prayers. Hands employed as requisite. Noon. Wind NE by E force 2. Hands employed scrubbing out boats and as requisite. 1600. Gave General leave to port watch until 0600. (28th). 1700. Quarters. 1730. Hands scrubbing and washing clothes.1915. Drew fires in steam cutter. 1945. HMS Sirius arrived and anchored. Raised Senior Officer Pennant. Coal expended 10 cwt. Number on sick list 7.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind ENE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.90 inches rising to 29.98 at 0800 and to 30.01 at noon before falling to 29.93 at 1600 and finishing at 29.95 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. 0315. Raised steam in cutter. 0400. Received 122 lbs of fresh beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 135 lbs of soft bread. 0800. Joined ship from HMS Sirius – N. Collins Steward (?) and R Small (?) Able Seaman (?) 1115. Divisions and prayers. Hands employed spreading awnings and as requisite. Noon. Wind ENE force 1. 1400. Gave General leave to starboard watch until 0600. (29th). Hands making and mending clothes. 1700. Quarters. 1900. HMS Sirius weighed and proceeded. 1930. Drew fires in steam cutter. Coal expended 10 cwt. Number on sick list 7.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind N by W   force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.92 inches rising to 30.01 at 0800 and to 30.04 at noon before falling to 29.96 at 1600 and finishing at 29.98 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F. 0300. Raised steam in cutter. 0400. Received 122 lbs of fresh beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 180 lbs of soft bread. 0710. Portuguese Man of Ware arrived. 0940. Dressed ship for Portuguese Man of War. 1015. She gave 13 gun salute as RINS Mayo arrived flying Governor’s flag at fore. Hands employed cleaning ship. Noon Wind ENE force 3. Hands employed cleaning ship and as requisite. 1615. Gave General leave to port watch until 0600 (30th).  Discharged R. Small to hospital. 1715. Quarters. Hands scrubbing and cleaning clothes. 200. Drew fires in steam cutter. Coal expended 10 cwt. Number on sick list 7.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind ENE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.98 inches rising to 30.06 at 0800 before falling to 30.04 at noon and to 29.95 at 1600 before finishing at 29.98 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 85F. 0330. Raised steam in cutter. 0400. Received 124 lbs of fresh beef and 62 lbs of vegetables plus 193 lbs of soft bread. 0800. Hands aired night clothing. 1000. Hands employed cleaning ship throughout. Noon. Wind ENE force 3 with broken clouds and squalls. Hands employed cleaning ship and as requisite. 1600. Gave Special leave to starboard watch until 0600 (1st). 1700. Quarters. 1720. Firing party returned from rifle range. 23. Drew fires from steam cutter. Coal expended 8 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind ENE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.97 inches rising to 30.02 at 0800 and to 30.05 at noon before falling to 2.95 at 1600 and finishing at 29.90 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 84F. 0330. Lit fires in steam cutter. 0400. Received 160 lbs of soft bread. 0615. Landed Roman Catholics and Wesleyan for chapel. 0930. Divisions and prayers. Mustered hands by the Open List. Paid monthly allowance to Ship’s Company. Performed Divine Service. Noon. Wind SE by E force 2 to 5 with broken cloud and squalls. Saluted Governor with 13 guns. Gave special leave to port watch until 0600 (2nd). 1645. Landed second range party.  1700. Quarters.  2110. P & O SS C—– (?) (Writing smudged) arrived with mail. 2215. Drew fires in cutter. Discharged H. Stubbins E.R G. to (Unable to read remainder). Coal expended 9 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind ENE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.97 inches rising to 30.01 at 0800 before falling to 29.93 at 1600 and finishing at 29.94 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F. 0330. Lit fires in steam cutter. 0400. Received 122 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 152 lbs of soft bread. 1045. Divisions and prayers. Hands employed as requisite. Noon. Wind ENE force 2. Hands employed as most requisite. 1600. Gave special leave to starboard watch until 0600. (3rd). 1800. Hands scrubbing and washing clothes. 1900. Drew fires in cutter. Coal expended 12 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind Calm with broken cloud. Barometer 29.90 inches rising to 29.98 at 0800 before falling to 29.91 at 1600 and finishing at 29.96 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 87F (95F at 1600). 0400. Lit fires in steam cutter. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 120 lbs of soft bread. 1045. Divisions and prayers. Hands employed as most requisite. Noon wind ENE force 1. Hands employed as requisite. 1600. Gave Special leave to port watch until 0600 (4th).  1700. Quarters. 1800. Drew fires in steam cutter. Coal expended 12 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind ENE force 1 with broken cloud Barometer 29.96 inches rising to 30.00 at 0800 before falling to 29.99 at noon and 29.95 at 2000 and finishing at midnight at 29.98 inches. Temperature at noon 86F. 0315. Lit fires in steam cutter. 0400. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 162 lbs of soft bread. 0715. Spanish mail steamer P de St—– arrived. (Unable to read handwriting). 1045. Divisions and prayers. Hands employed as requisite. Noon. Wind ENE force 2. Hands employed as requisite. Lost overboard 3 inch wire hammer. 1600. Gave General leave to starboard watch until 0600 (5th). 1700. Quarters. Hands scrubbing and washing clothes. 1915. Drew fires in steam cutter. Coal expended 12 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind ENE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.94 inches rising to 29.99 at 0800 before falling to 29.92 at 1600 and finishing at 29.95 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. 0315. Lit fires in steam cutter. 0400. P & O steamer Australia arrived with London mail. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 162 lb s of soft bread. 1000. Divisions and prayers. Hands employed as requisite. Noon. Wind ENE force 3. 1330. Gave General leave to port watch until 0600. (6th). 1600. Hands making and mending clothes. 1700. Quarters.  1825. RINS Mayo sailed. Coal expended 13 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind ENE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.90 inches rising to 29.98 at noon before falling to 29.87 at 16000 and finishing at 29.88 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F. 0315. Lit fires in cutter. 0400. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 168 lbs of soft bread. 0600. HMS Hermione arrived.

Hermione was assigned to the China Station in 1898. In 1900 under the command of Captain R S D Cuming, she played a minor part in the third China war or Boxer Rebellion. In December 1899 and April 1900, Marines from Hermione served as an honour guard and pallbearers for the funerals of the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Charles Mitchell and the Chief Justice of the British Supreme Court for China and Corea, Sir Nicholas John Hannen, who had also served as consul-general in Shanghai.

800. Hands cleaning ship throughout. Noon Wind ENE force 2. 1400. Hands employed cleaning ship and as requisite. 1600. Gave special leave to starboard watch until 0600. (7th).1700. Quarters. Hands scrubbing and washing clothes. 2100. Drew fires in steam cutter. HMS Hermione sailed. Coal expended 15cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.97 inches falling to 29.94 at 0800 and to 29.87inches at 1600 where it stayed until midnight. Temperature at noon 86F. 0315. Lit fires in cutter. 0400. Received 126 lbs of fresh beef and 63 lbs of vegetables plus 170 lbs of soft bread. 0600. Aired night clothing. 0930. Portuguese Man of War Yego sailed.1000. Hands employed cleaning ship throughout. Noon. Wind south force 1. 1400. Hands employed as requisite. 1600. Gave Special leave to port watch until 0600 (8th) 1700. Quarters. Range party returned. 1715. Read Warrant number 73. Issued soap and tobacco to Ship’s Company. 2100. Drew fires in steam cutter. Coal expended 11 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind SW force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.88 inches rising to 29.95 at 0800 and falling to 29.93 at noon  and to 29.87 at 1600 before ending at 29.92 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F.  0330. Lit fires in cutter. 0430. Arrived special mail steamer Tela de Penay (?). Received 162 lbs of soft bread. 0615. Landed Roman Catholics and Wesleyans. 0930 divisions. 0930. RINS Mayo arrived. 1030. Performed divine Service. Noon. Wind south force1. 1400. Gave special leave to starboard watch until 0600 (9th). 1500. Russian Volunteer steamer Orel arrived

The Russian Volunteer Fleet was created in 1878 at St. Petersburg, at the behest of Tsar Alexander III and started sailings from Odessa to Vladivostok in 1880. He called for private donations to create a “Patriotic Squadron” to destroy the British mercantile fleet if war occurred between Russia and Britain over Afghanistan.
By 1890 there were only seven ships in the fleet, but this figure had grown to fifteen by 1900

Source https://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/russianv.shtml

1645. Quarters. Landed third range party. 1710. RINS Mayo sailed. 2000. P & O Steamship Oceania carrying outbound mails arrived. 2210. Drew fires in steam cutter. Coal expended 12 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 29.91 inches rising to 29.99 at 0800 before falling to 29.90 at 1600 and finishing at 29.95 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F. 0030. Russian Volunteer Ship Orel sailed. 0330. Lit fires in steam cutter. 0350. P & O steamship Oceania sailed. 0600. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 170 lbs of soft bread. 1045. Divisions and prayers. Read Warrant number 74. Hands employed as requisite. Noon. Wind ESE force 1. 1400. Hands employed as requisite. 1600. Gave Special leave to port watch until 0600. (10th).1700. Quarters. Hands scrubbing and washing clothes.   G. Harding (Ordinary) returned from hospital.  Coal expended 10 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.94 inches rising to 29.98 at noon before falling to 29.95 at 2000 and finishing at 29.97 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F. 0155. Drew fires in steam cutter. 0345. Lit fires in steam cutter. 0400. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 168 lbs of soft bread. 1000. Divisions and prayers. Hands employed as requisite. Noon. Wind SSE force 1.  1600. Gave special leave to watch until 0600. (11th). 1700. Quarters. 1915. Drew fires in steam cutter. Coal expended 12 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind Calm with broken cloud. Barometer 29.95 inches rising to 30.01 at 0800 before falling to 29.93 at 1600 and finishing at 29.95 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 87F. 0300. Lit fires in steam cutter. 0645. RIMS Mayo arrived. 0645. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 165 lbs of soft bread. 0845. 0845. Able Seaman J Harris returned to duty from Garrison Cells. 1045. Divisions and prayers. Hands employed as requisite. Noon. Wind ENE force 1.1400. Hands employed as requisite. 1600. Gave General leave to port watch until 0600 (12th). 1700. Quarters. Hands scrubbing and washing clothes. Coal expended 13 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored in Outer Harbour Aden. Wind NW force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.95 inches rising to 29.96 at non before falling to 29.89 at 1600 and then rising to 29.91 at 2000 before finishing at 29.89 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 87F. 0030. Drew fires in steam cutter. 0303. Lit fires in steam cutter. 0400. Received 120 lbs of fresh beef and 60 lbs of vegetables plus 171 lbs of soft bread. 0800. Hands employed as most requisite. 1130. Divisions and prayers. Read Warrant number 75. Noon. Wind SSE force 2. 1330. Gave General leave to starboard watch until 0600 (13th). 1400. Hands making and mending clothes. 1700. Quarters. 1930. Drew fires in steam cutter. Coal expended 11 cwt. Number on sick list 3.