Moored in Aden Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 24.78 inches rising to 29.80 at 0800 and to 29.82 at noon before falling to 29 .75 at 1600 and finishing at 29.78 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 87F. 0615. HMS Melpomene weighed and proceeded. 1000. Hands painting ship and as most requisite. Noon. Wind south force 2 to 3. 1343. HMS Melpomene arrived and anchored. 1400. Hands employed painting and as requisite. 1700. Quarters. Took in clean hammocks. 1800. Gave special leave to starboard watch until 0600 (13 July). 1900. Landed patrol. 2020. RIMS Mayo weighed and proceeded. Coal expended 5 cwt.  Number on sick list 3.

Moored in Aden Harbour. Wind south force 2 to 4 with broken cloud and passing showers. Barometer 29.75 inches rising to 29.80 at 0800 before falling to 29.8 t noon and to 29.69 at 1600  and finishing at  29.72 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F. 0200. Received 122 lbs of fresh beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 155 lbs of soft bread. 0930. Divisions and prayers. 1000. Marines at Rifle exercise. Remaining hands employed as most requisite. Noon. Wind south force 2. 1300. Hands employed as most requisite. 1600. Gave general leave to starboard watch until 0600. (14 July). 1700. Quarters. Hands scrubbing and washing clothes. 1830. Landed patrol. 2310. Patrol returned. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored in Aden Harbour. Wind NW force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.69 inches rising to 29.74 at 0800. Before falling to 29.78 at noon and to 29.66 at 1600 before finishing at 29.69 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. 0200. Received 122 lbs of fresh beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 170 lbs of soft bread.  0710. RIMS mayo arrived and anchored. 0910. Divisions and prayers. 1000. Port watch mustering Boys. Remainder of hands employed as requisite. Noon. Wind south force 2 to 3. 1300. Gave general leave to port watch until 0600 (15 July). 1400. Hands making and mending clothes. 1700. Quarters. 1830. Landed patrol 2100. Exercised starboard watch – Man and arm ship.

Coal expended 4cwt. Number on sick list 3.

Moored in Aden Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud and lightning. Barometer 29.70 inches rising to 29.74 at 0800 and to 29.75 at noon before falling to 29.68 at 1600 and finishing at 29.74 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. 0200. Received 122 lbs of fresh beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 171 lbs of soft bread. 0600. Exercised hands at General Quarters for Action. 0800. Divisions and prayers .0900. Hands employed scrubbing small gear and as most requisite. 1000. Received from HMS Melpomene empty ammunition and lime juice cases and 5 cases marked Marine clothing. Noon. Wind SSW force 4 to 5 with broken cloud. 1300. Hands employed as requisite. 1700. Quarters. Hands scrubbing and washing clothes. 1600. Gave special leave to starboard watch until 0600 (16 July).  Coal expended 5 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored in Aden Harbour. Wind south force 2 to 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.78 inches rising to 29.80 at 0800 and to 29.81 at noon before falling to 29.73 at 1600 and finishing at 29.72 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F. 0200. Received 122 lbs of fresh beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 161 lbs of soft bread. 0720. Exercised hands at Fire Stations. 1000. Hands employed cleaning ship. Noon. Wind S by W force 4. 1300. Hands cleaning ship and as most requisite.  1700. Quarters. Gave special leave to port watch until 0600 (17 July). 1800. Received ??? men of various ratings for passage to ???. Sling ??? and hammocks.   (Very difficult to read handwriting) coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored in Aden Harbour. Wind NE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.71 inches rising to 29.74 at 0800 and to 29.75 at noon before falling to 29.62 at 1600 and finishing at 29.66 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F. 0610. Landed Roman Catholics. 0640. Landed Wesleyans. 0930. Divisions and prayers. Performed Divine Service. Noon. Wind S by W force 3. 1300. Gave general leave to starboard watch until 2200. 1700. Quarters. 1515. HMS Melpomene weighed and proceeded. 1830. HMS Melpomene returned and anchored. 2010. P&O SS Australasia arrived (outward bound). 2330. HMS Melpomene sailed. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored in Aden Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 29.65 inches rising to 29.70 at 0800 before falling to 29.60 at 1600 and finishing at 2963 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89 F.  0200. Received 132 lbs of fresh beef and 66 lbs of vegetables plus 174 lbs of soft bread. 0330. Lit fires in steam cutter. 0600. Exercised hands – Out sheet anchor. 0930 divisions and prayers. 1000. Ordinary Seamen at seamanship. Party returning shell to arsenal. Remaining hands employed as requisite. Noon. Wind south force 2 to 3. 1300. Ordinary Seamen at seamanship instruction. Party employed returning shell to arsenal. Remaining hands employed as requisite. 1700. Quarters. Gave special leave to port watch until 0500. (19 July). Hands scrubbing hammocks and washing clothes. 2130 Drew fires in steam cutter. Coal expended 8 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored in Aden Harbour. Wind SSE force 1 to 2 with broken cloud. Barometer  26.67 inches rising to 29.78 at 0800 before falling to 29.60 at 1600 and finishing at 29.66 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F. 0200. Received 132 lbs of fresh beef and 66 lbs of vegetables plus 205 lbs of soft bread. 0300. Lit fires in steam cutter. 0400. Exercised both watches – Out sheet anchor and cable. 0600. Party drawing shells from arsenal. 0930. Divisions and prayers. 1000. Marines at heavy gun drill. Party drawing shell from arsenal. Remaining hands employed as requisite. 1130. Drew fires in steam cutter. Noon. Wind S by W force 2. 1405. HMS Melpomene arrived. 1500.  Hands employed stowing forward shell room and as requisite. 1700. Quarters. 1830. Sultan of Lahej visited ship. 1740. HMS Marathon arrived and made fast to buoy. 1820. Saluted Sultan of Lahej with 9 guns. 1830. Gave special leave to starboard watch until 0500 (20 July). 2045. Exercised port watch – man and arm ship. Coal expended 6 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored in Aden Harbour. Wind Calm with broken cloud. Barometer 29.69 inches rising to 29.78 at 0800 before dropping to 29.76 at noon and to 29.64 inches at 1600 where it finishing at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. 0200. Received 152 lbs of fresh beef and 66 lbs of vegetables plus 234 lbs of soft bread. Landed Small Arms Company and Marines for drill. 0900. Lit fires in number 2 boiler. 0935. Divisions and prayers. 100. Hands employed as requisite. Noon Wind SSE force 1 to 2. 1300. Discharged Seedy Boys to HMS Marathon. 1400. Hands employed as requisite. 1700. Quarters. Discharged 8 ratings to HMS Melpomene. Discharged 10 ratings to HMS Marathon. Two ratings returned from hospital. 2000. Preparing sip for sea.   Coal expended 16 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

Moored in Aden Harbour. Wind E by N force 3 to 4 with broken cloud and lightning. Barometer 29.71 inches rising to 29.80 at 0800 before falling to 29.78 at noon and to 29.72 at 1600 before finishing at 29.70 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. 0200. Received 114 lbs of fresh beef and 57 lbs of vegetables plus 429 lbs of soft bread. 0910. Divisions and prayers. Lit fires in numbers 2 and 4 boilers. 100. Hands preparing ship for sea and as requisite. . Noon Wind SSE force 2 to 3. Draught forward 14 feet 3 inches. Aft 16 feet 3 inches. 1300. Hands employed preparing sip for sea and as requisite. Joined ship from HMS Marathon two ??? ( unable to read handwriting.) Discharged 4 ???? ( Unable to read hand writing) to HMS Marathon. 1400. Tested lifebuoys. Found acceptable. 1710. Commenced shortening in cable. 1728. Slipped hawser astern. Weighed and proceeded. Course as requisite for clearing HMS Marathon and HMS Melpomene and for proceeding out of harbour. Communicated by signal with Rear Admiral Drummond taking passage onboard P&O SS Egypt. 1848. Proceeded at full speed – 88 revolutions) Put over Cherub log.

Thomas Ferdinand Walker (1837–1921) first patented the Cherub log in 1878 (no. 4369). It was one of the first logs in which the recorder was placed on board the ship rather than being part of the rotor.

Shaped course to S38W. S34W. Connected hand steering gear. 2048. Watch employed scrapping and stowing cable. 2310. Sounded in 36 fathoms. Sky overcast with lightning. Speed 8.2 knots. Course S85W for Suez. Exercised sea boats crews and close watertight doors. Coal expended 10 tons 1 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

Aden to Suez. Course S85W at 8.2 knots. Wind WNW force 2 with broken cloud and lightning. Barometer 29.82 inches rising to 2985 at 0800 before falling to 29.78 at 1600 before finishing at 29.82 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F.  0100. Watch employed reeling up and stowing wire hawser. 0300. Sounded in 95 fathoms.  Alt. C??? (Unable to read handwriting) N65W. 0508. Sighted the Brothers W by S.  0512. Sighted Bar el Mandeb to NNW. 0515. Altered course to N39W (Standard) N42W true. 0600. Altered course to N35W (Standard) N38W True. 0615. Course as requisite through Straits of Bar el Mandeb. 0700. Shaped course to N35W. 0730. Observed total error on standard compass 2.15 W.  1000. Hands cleaning ship. 1030. Divisions and prayers.1100. Watch employed as most requisite. 1150. Sounded. No bottom. Noon. Position 15.7 ½ N 45.1 ½ E. Wind SE by S force 2 to 3 with broken cloud. Speed 8.3 knots. 1300. Hands employed s requisite. 1355. Observed land ahead. 1525. Altered course to N52W. 1600. Altered course to NNW. 1700. Altered course to north at 8 knots. 1700. Quarters. Exercised hands at General quarters. 1830.  Shaped course for N27W. 2200. Exercised watch at close watertight doors.  Coal expended 24 tons 9 cwt. Number on sick list 5.

At sea Aden to Suez. Course N27N at 8 knots. Wind NNE force 2 with overcast sky. Barometer 29.82 inches rising to 29.86 at 0800 before falling to 29.79 at 1600 and rising again to 29.87 before finishing at 29.82 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 93F. 0030. Sounded in 90 fathoms. 0200. Exercised sea boats crew and closing watertight doors.  0230. Adjusted clocks to meridian 39E (both 16 minutes). 0400. Wind NW force 3 with slight swell. 0400. Observed Lebayier island E6N ½ N. Distance 127 miles. 0550. Sighted Jebel Tier N ¾ W. 0800. Exercised hands at Fire Quarters. 0845. Jebel Tier N80E (Standard). Distance 97 miles. 100. Hands employed cleaning ship throughout. Noon. Position 15.51N 46.21 ½ E. Wind WNW force 1 to 2 with blue sky but with mist. 1300. Hands employed cleaning ship. 1515. Passed Russian volunteer vessel steering S8. 1530. Log observed 31.21 ½ E. 1630 P & O SS Shannon out bound. 1700. Quarters. 1750. Overserved Total error of standard compass 1.39W. 2000. Wind NE by E force 2 with broken cloud. Coal expended 26 tons. Number on sick list 5.

At sea Aden to Suez. Course N27W at 8 knots Wind WNW force 4 to5 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.85 inches falling to 2982 at 0800 and again to 29.76 at 1600 before rising to 29.82 at 200 and finishing at 2978 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 92F. 0100. Adjusted clocks to Suez time – back 20 minutes. 0400. Wind WSW force 3 to 4 with slight swell. 0700. Observed total error on standard compass 1.34 west. 0800. Wind NW force 3. 0930. Divisions. Performed Divine Service. 100. Weather thick and hazy due to sand dust in the air. 1050. Altered course to N33W standard. N35W true. Noon. Position 17.58N 40.11 ¼ E. 1600. Wind NW by W force 2 to 3. Wind abating and sand dust clearing. 1610. Observed total error on standard compass 2.58W. 1700. Quarters. 2000. Wind NW force 2. Latitude observed 19.0 N 39. 28E. Coal expended 26 tons 11 cwt. Number on sick list 4

At sea Aden to Suez. Course N27W at 8 knots. Wind NNW force 4 with broken cloud.  Moderate swell. Barometer 29.82 inches rising to 29.86 at 0800 and falling to 29.80 at 1600 before finishing at 29.82 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 95F. 0730. Passed HMS Blenheim standing southwards. (Exchanged numbers)

HMS Blenheim was a Blake-class first class protected cruiser that served in the Royal Navy from 1890–1926. She was built by Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding Company at Leamouth, London. The ship was named after the Battle of Blenheim.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Blenheim_(1890)

910. Divisions and prayers. 1000. Ordinary Seamen at seamanship instruction. Watch employed as requisite. Noon. Position 20.58 ½ N. 38.30 ½ E. Wind NW by N force 2 to 5. 1300 Watch employed as most requisite. 1700. Quarters. 1740. Observed land to NNW. 1900. Hands scrubbing and washing clothes. 2200. Starboard watch closing watertight doors and exercising sea boats crews. Coal expended 25 tons 9 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

At sea Aden to Suez. Course N27W at 8 knots. Wind NW force 5 with broken cloud and with slight swell. Barometer 29.81 inches rising to 29.90 at 0800 before falling to 29.84 at 1600 rising again to 29.88 before finishing at 29.90 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 92F. 0300. Exercised sea boats crews and close watertight doors. 0800. Wind NW by N force 3. 0915. Divisions and prayers. 1000. Battened down forward hatch. 1100. Hands employed as most requisite. Noon. Position 23.51 ½ N. 36.30E. Wind NNW force 3 to 4.  1320. Observed St John’s WNW1400. Ordinary Seamen at seamanship. Remainder employed as most requisite. 1530. St John’s abeam. Wind and sea moderating. 1700. Quarters. Exercised hands at General Quarters. 1800. Unbattend fore hatches. 2100. Exercised starboard watch – Man and arm ship.

2200. Exercised port watch in close watertight doors. 2300. Sighted Daedalus to NWW. Coal expended 30 tons 17 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

At sea Aden to Suez. Course N27W at 7.8 knots. Wind NW force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.83 inches rising to 29.89 at 0800 before falling to 29.85 at 1600 and to 29.82 at 2000 before finishing at 29.84 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 91F.  0120. Daedalus abeam. Distance 15 miles. 0300. Exercised close watertight doors and sea boats crews. . 0330. Lost sight of Daedalus. 0510. Observed land off port bow. 0800. Wind force 2.  0915. Divisions and prayers. 1000. Exercised Small Arms Company at drills. 1100. Watch employed as most requisite. Noon. Position 26.3N 35.3E. Wind NNW force 3. 1230. Observed Brothers Light House on port beam.

Brothers Islands Lighthouse is an active 19th century lighthouse located on The Brothers, Egypt, an island in the Red Sea, 65 km east of al-Qusayr. Built by the British in 1883 and renovated in 1993, the lighthouse is operated by the Egyptian Navy. The site is usually open to visitors who are normally permitted to climb the 31-metre-high (102 ft) tower.

The lighthouse still retains its original hand-cranked Chance Brothers Fresnel lens and drive mechanism, which requires winding every four hours by the attendant lighthouse keepers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothers_Islands_Lighthouse

1419. Brothers Lighthouse abeam distance 2 miles. 1500. Watch employed as requisite. 1600. Wind north force 2. 1630. Altered course to ascertain deviation of standard compass on the NW quadrant. 1700. Quarters. Exercised hands at General Quarters.1825. Sunset. Hands scrubbing and washing clothes. 2100 ???? light to NW ½ N. ( Unable to read writing). 2200. Exercised sea boats crews and close watertight doors. 2300. S ???? Light (Unable to read handwriting) S79W Distance 5 to 6 miles. Altered course to N41 ½ W. Coal expended 28 tons 10 cwt. 126 tons 7 cwt remaining. Number on sick list 4.

At sea Aden to Suez. Course N41 ½ W at 7.9 knots Wind NW by N force 4 to 6 with broken cloud and squalls. . Barometer 29.80 inches rising to 29.84 at 0800 and to 29.86 at noon before falling to 29.82 at 16000 and finishing at 29.94 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. 0030. Observed Ashrafi Light House on port beam. 0036. Lost Shaduran (?) light. 0200. Exercised sea boats crews and close watertight doors. 0235. Ashrafi Light N05W. Sounded in 35 fathoms. 0300. Ashrafi Light abeam. 0700. Passed P & O Steamer Rome (?)0715. Observed Ras Ghareb Lighthouse 2 degrees on port bow. 0800. Wind NW force 2 to 3 with blue sky.  0820. Altered course to N21W (Standard) N24W true.  0916. Ras Ghareb lighthouse abeam. 1100. Hands employed furling Poop canvas and as requisite. Noon. Position 28.41N 32.59E. Wind NNW force 2 to 3. 1300. Issued slops to Ships Company. Hands making and mending clothing.1400. Sighted Lafarama light NW. 1500. Lafarama light abeam 1600. Quarters. Furled Quarterdeck awning. Turned in Jolly boat. 2110 Altered course to N05W. 1920. Observed Kearport Rocks Light (?) abeam.  200. Course as requisite for anchorage. Connected steam steering gear. 0940. Engines and helm as requisite for coming to an anchorage. 2210. Let go port anchor in 5 fathoms and veered to 3 shackles. Found here HMS Scout. Banked fires in 1, 2 and 4 boilers. Let fires die out in number 3 boiler. Coal expended 25 tons 4 cwt. Number on sick list. 4.

At anchor at Suez. Anchor bearing Kel ak Kelierat light S47W (Unable to read second bearing at S77E) Newport Rock light South. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 29.87 inches rising to 29.90 at 0800 and to 29.91 at noon before falling to 29.87 at 1600 and finishing at 29.92 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 85F. 0400. HMS Scout broke Senior Officer Pendant. 0830. Spread fire in number 2 boiler. 0930. Spread fires in numbers 1 and 4 boilers. 0930. Divisions and prayers. Received various ratings for passage to England. 100. Hands employed cleaning ship and preparing for passage through canal. 1115. Pilot arrived onboard. 1120. Weighed and proceeded up Suez Canal. Italian Man of War Cheered Ship. Returned the compliment. Noon. Wind NNW force 3. 1300. Proceeded working engines and helm as requisite up Suez Canal.  Watch employed as most requisite 1500. Hands preparing for coaling. 1930. Let go port bower in 4 fathoms off Ismailia: veered to 2 shackles. Banked fires in numbers 1 and 4 boilers. Draught of water forward 12 feet 0 inches. Aft 15 feet 6 inches. Coal expended 10 tons 10 cwt. Number on sick list 4.

At Anchor off Ismailia. Wind N by W force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.89 inches falling to 39.82 at noon before rising to 29.89 at 1600 and finishing at 29.90inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F. 0230. Spread fire.  0430. Pilot arrived onboard. 0500. Weighed and proceed as requisite through the Canal. 0610. Stopped and gathered ships up to allow steamer to pass.  0610. Proceeding up Suez Canal. 0930. Corrected Standard compass as north using thwart ship magnets. 1100. Watch employed as most requisite. Noon. Wind N by W force 2. 1300. Arrived at Port Said. Secured ships head and stern to mooring buoys. Here also HMS Halogen. 1415. Commenced coaling. Watch employed as most requisite. 1830. Finished coaling. Received 160 tons. Received one Marine and one invalid for passage to England.  2130. Slipped and proceeded as requisite out of harbour. 2300. Shaped course north. Connected hand steering gear. Exercised sea boats crews and closing watertight doors. Midnight. Altered course to north. Coal expended 14tons 19 cwt. Number on sick list 7.

Port Said to Malta. Course North at 8.2 knots. Wind WNW force 1 to 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 29. 86 inches rising to 29.88 at 0800 and to 29.90 at 1600 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. 0010. Sounded in 13 fathoms.0100. Observed Da????  handwriting very small) Light S29W? 0200. Exercised seaboat’s crews and close watertight doors. 0300. Altered course to N 65W. Sounded in 28 fathoms.02325.  Dan??? Light 12 miles. 0500. Daylight. Land not visible. 0900. Speed 11 knots. Put clocks back 20 minutes. 1000. Speed 8.2 knots. Hands employed cleaning ship throughout. 1130 Divisions and prayers. Noon. Position 32.9 ¼ N. 30.36 ¾ E. at 8.2 knots. Wind N by W force 2.  St Elmos Light Valetta N74W 844 miles. 1700. Quarters. 2300. Exercised seaboat’s crews. Coal expended 29 tons. Number on sick list 7.