Malta to Port Said. Course S64E at 10.5 knots with a smooth sea. Wind north force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.10 inches rising to 30.17 at 0800 and then falling to 30.15 at noon and to 30.13 at 1600 before rising to 30.15 and finishing at 30.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 65F. 0230. Put clocks on 8 minutes. 0600. Cleaning ship. 0800. Wind NW force 1 to 2 with broken cloud. 0930. Divisions. 1010. Read prayers.  1130. Put clock on 11 minutes. Noon. Position 34.55N 18.48 ½ E. course 65E at 9 knots. Wind SSW force 2 with broken cloud. 1315. Altered course to S65E. 1600. Light airs with blue sky. Evening Quarters. Coal expended 20 tons. Number on sick list NIL

Malta to Port Said. Course S65E at 10.2 knots. Wind north force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.03 inches rising to 30.08 at 0800 and to 30.15 at noon and then falling to 30.00 at 1600 before rising to 30.07 at 2000 and finishing at midnight at 20.10 inches. Temperature at noon 65F.  0600. Rigged target for quarterly firing. 0800. Wind north force 2 with clouds. 0830. Hauled in Patent log. Exercised quarterly firing at target. Course as requisite for practice. 1120. Shaped to S65E. Noon. Position 33.50N 22.52E. 1310. Course S65E at 8 knots. Altered course to S66E. Carried out Morris tube practice at target. 1600. Wind north force 2 with broken cloud. Evening quarters. Watch – Man and arm ship. Read Warrant number 5. 1800. Watch – Man and arm ship. Scrub and wash clothes. Sling clean hammocks. 2000. Wind WNW force 2 with broken cloud. 0900. Burned search light. Coal expended 22 tons 3 cwt. Number on sick list Nil.

Malta to Port Said. Course S66E at 10.2 knots. Wind north force 1 to 2 with broken cloud and smooth sea. Barometer 30.03 inches rising to 30.11 at 0800 and to 30.20 at 1600 before falling to 30.17 at 2000 and finishing at 30.10 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 64F.  0730. Divisions. Took in dirty hammocks. Put clock on 8 minutes. 0800. Wind north force 1 with blue sky. Marines mustered bags. 0915. Exercised Small Arms Company in full marching order. 1017. Connect up conning tower wheel. 1018.Connected up. 1029. Connect up steam engineering wheel. 1030. Connected. 1030. Connecting after bridge wheel. 1043. Connected up. 1043. Clock on 8 minutes. Noon. Position 32.38N 27.43E. Course S66E at 12.9 knots. Wind south force 1 with blue sky.  Alexandra S53E at 136 miles.  1305. Altered course to S67E. Lost by accident ½ print (?) feeder and pisaba brush.

Pisaba Brush – Gun barrel cleaning device made with bristles from a type of palm frond.

Make and mend clothes. 1600. Wind light airs with blue sky. Evening Quarters. Hauled in Patent log. 1615. Stopped. Sent away both lifeboats.1630. Picked up sea boats. 16.38. Proceeded on S67E at 87 revolutions. Put over Patent log. 2000. Wind calm with blue sky. 2250. Put clocks on 9 minutes. Re-stowing 8 pounder magazine.  Coal expended 25 tons 10 cwt. (includes Distilling). Number on sick list Nil.

Malta to Port Said. Course S76E at 11 knots. Wind ENE force 1 to 2 with broken cloud and smooth sea. Barometer 30.10 inches rising to 30.13 at noon and then falling to 30.10 at 1600 before rising to 30.15  inches at 2000 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 73F. Sea temperature 66F.

0200. Put clock forward 8 minutes.
0500. Sighted land on starboard bow.
0600. Brulos Light House on bow. (31.5983N 31.08209E. Elevation 4 metres – 13 feet)

0643. Brulos Light House abeam.
0650. Altered course to S77E. Aired bedding.
0800. Wind east force 1 with broken cloud.
1025. Dannietta (?) Light 6.2 miles. Altered course to S47E. Exercised – Man and arm ship. Mustered bedding. Noon. Position 31,26N 32.9E. Course S47E at 10.4 knots. Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud.
1315. Hauled in Patent log.  Hoisted pilot flag.
1400. Pilot arrived. Proceeded into harbour.
1430. Stopped. Let go port anchor. Made fast astern to number 8 buoy.  (Unable to read handwriting but there appears to be some reference to Navy House and the number 340)
1700. Coaling ship.
2000. Wind calm with broken cloud. Finished coaling. Received 104 tons. Cleaning ship.

Coal expended 15 tons 3 cwt. Number on sick list NIL.

Moored at Port Said.  Wind east force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 20.15 inches rising to 30.17 at 0800 then falling to e 30.10 at noon; rising to 30.12 at 1600 and falling again to 30.10 at 2000 before finishing at 30.15 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 73F. 0200. Received 128 lbs of beef and 64 lbs of vegetables plus 300 lbs of bread. 0400. Discharged stores to “RUPERT” for “HALCYON”.  30 coal bags and drums. 0615. JANUS and (?) Sailor (Unable to read handwriting). 0800. Wind east force 2 with broken cloud. 0915 Preparing for entering canal. 1030. Prepared to slip and shortened in. 1115.  Weighed and proceeded. 1115. Entered canal. Course and speed as requisite. Draught 15 feet 9 inches aft. 14 feet 8 inches forward. . 1230. Passed first station. 1600 Wind north force 2 with blue sky.  1810. Stopped. 1815.  Came to starboard anchor. Veered to 1 ½ shackles. Anchor bearings Flag staff N by W. Hospital N (???) Scrubbed hammocks. 2000. Wind east force 2 with blue sky. Coal expended 7 tons 4 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

At anchor at Ismailia. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.09 inches falling to 30.07 at 0800 and then rising to 30.12 at noon before falling to 30.03 inches at 16000 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 90F. Sea temperature 67F. 0530. Shortened in. 0650. Weighed and proceeded as requisite for Suez Canal. 0800. Wind SE by S force 1 with blue sky. 0910. Divisions. Shaped course to S27E for passing through Bitter Lakes. 1040. Stopped. 1145. Gared up.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘gare’ as an obsolete adjective for “Ready; sharp, keen.” Its origins lay in Old Norse and has come to us through iterations of Old English, Old Saxon, and Old High German. Considering the context in which the term ‘gared up’ is used in the log, this definition of gare appears to fit reasonably well.

Noon. Wind calm with blue sky. 1214. Proceeded. 1315. Stopped. 1320. Gared up.1348. Proceeded. 1400. Issued (Unable to read rest of the line).1500. Stopped. Gared up. 1600. Wind N by E force 1 with blue sky. 1620 Proceeded.1850. Stopped. Came to buoy in Suez basin. Made fast (Unable to read next word) to wall. 2000. Wind N by E force 1 with broken cloud. 2100. Lost by accident (Next word unreadable because of water damage) to accommodation ladder.  Coal expended 8 tons 7 cwt. Number on sick list 6.

Moored at Suez. Wind calm. Barometer 29.99 inches falling to 29.93 at 0800 ad then rising to 29.94 at 1600 and to 29.95 at 2000 before finishing at 30.00 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 83F. 0800. Wind calm with blue sky. Cleaning ship throughout. Received 130 lbs of beef and 65 lbs of vegetables plus 100 lbs of bread. Noon. Wind S by E force 2 with broken cloud. 1600. Wind south with overcast sky. Evening Quarters.  Special leave to starboard watch.  2000. Wind NW force 2 to 3 with broken cloud.  Coal expended 4 cwt.  Number on sick list 6.

(Sunday). Moored to buoy at Suez basin. Wind NNE force 3 to 5 with broken cloud and squalls. Barometer 30.00 inches falling to 29.99 at 0800 and then rising to 30.03 at noon before finally finishing at 30.06 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 81F.  0400. Received 163 lbs of beef and 63 lbs of vegetables. 0800. Wind NNE force 2 with broken cloud. 0930. Divisions and prayers.  Noon. Wind north force 2 with broken cloud. . 1600. Wind north force 2 with broken cloud. Evening Quarters. Prepared for sea. Received 124 lbs of beef and 67 lbs of vegetables plus 57o lbs of bread. Coal expended 4 cwt plus 1 ton 10 cwt for distilling. Number on sick list 6.

Moored in Suez Basin. Draught 15 feet 8 inches aft. 14 feet 7 inches forward. Wind north force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.08 inches rising to 30.10 inches at 0800 and then falling to 30.03 at noon and to 29.97 at 1600 and to 29.95 at 2000 before finishing at 29.98 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 69F.

0530. Slipped and proceeded.
0610. Put over patent log. Shaped to S12 ½ E.
0800. Wind north force 2 with broken cloud.
0930. Divisions.
1100. Put clock on 10 minutes.
Noon. Position 30.54N 32.52E. Course S12 ½ E at 8 knots.  Wind north force 3 with blue sky.
1300. Firing Morris tubes from 6 inch and 3 pounder.
1530. Ras Gharib lighthouse abeam.

Before the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the city of Ras Ghareb, north of the Red Sea, owned an archaeological tower constructed by the famous French engineer Gustave Eiffel.

The lighthouse in the Al-Sakkala region is located on the coast of the city of Ras Gharib. The lighthouse of Ras Gharib is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world, which was established in 1871, during the era of Khedive Ismail, while the construction of the Eiffel Tower began in 1887.

The lighthouse was established after the opening of the “Suez Canal”. The lighthouse is located on a circle 28.213 degrees north, and longitude 33.68 east. Its purpose was to guide ships, secure marine navigation, and drive ships away from the coral reef areas.

1600. Wind north force 4 to 5 with blue sky. Course S38E. Watch – Man and arm ship. Scrub and wash clothes.
2000. Wind north force 3 with blue sky. (?) light abeam. (Unable to read handwriting.)
2030. Sighted S – (?)
2240. Altered course to S27 ½ E. Put clock on 4 minutes.

Coal expended 16 tons 10 cwt. Number on sick list 9.

At sea Suez to Aden. Course S27 ½ E at 10 knots. Wind north force 5 with blue sky and moderate sea.  Barometer 29.95 inches rising to 30.00 at 0800 and t 30.03 at noon before falling to 29.95 at 1600 and to 29.86 at 2000 and then finishing at 30.00 inches at midnight.  Temperature at noon 77F.

0530. Hauled in Patent log. Eased to slow for taking lighters in tow.
0723. Proceeded at 85 revolutions with lighters in tow.
0740. Brolturs Light abeam at 2.1 miles.
0800. Wind north force 2 to 3 with blue sky.
0935. Divisions with arms. Starboard Watch at rile drill. Carried out Morris tube practice at rolling motion target from 3 pounder Quick Fire.  Noon. Position 25.57N. 35.13. Course S27 ½ E at 8.5 knots.
1600. Wind north force 2 to 3 blue sky.
1605. Stopped to retrieve tows.
1620. Proceed at 85 revolutions.
1630. Evening Quarters. Exercised Fire Stations.
1804. Sighted Daedalus light ahead.

Daedalus Reef (also known as Abu Kizan) is a 400-meter-long and 100-meter-wide (1,310–330 ft) standalone reef in the Egyptian Red Sea situated about 90 kilometers from Marsa Alam. There is a small artificial island in the center of the reef, which hosts a lighthouse constructed in 1863 and rebuilt in 1931

Altered course to S26E.

Coal expended 22 tons 2 cwt. Number on sick list 9.

At sea. Suez to Aden. Course S26E at 8.5 knots. Wind light airs with blue sky and smooth sea. Barometer 29.86 inches rising to 30.00 at 0800 and to 30.03 at noon and then dropping to 29.93 at 2000 before finishing at 29.95 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 81F. 0800. Wind light airs with blue sky. 0900. Divisions and prayers.  Exercised Magazine and Shell parties at drill. Ventilated magazines. Exercised 6 inch Quick Fire guns crews at drill. Noon. Position 23.11N 36.58 ½ E. Wind south with blue sky. 1315. Stopped. Slipped. 1330. Hauled in towrope. 13.45. Proceeded at 85 revolutions S26E. 1550. Sighted HMS Edgar bound north. 1600. Wind SE force 3 with blue sky. 1640. Evening Quarters. 1650. Port watch at physical drill. Starboard watch at Morris tube practice. Coal expended 13 tons 16 cwt. Number on sick list 10.

At sea. Suez to Aden. Course S26E at 8 knots. Wind SE force 2 with broken cloud and slight swell.  Barometer 29.96 inches rising to 29.98 at 0800 and then falling to 29.97 at noon and to 29.93 at 1600 and to 20.87 at 2000 before finishing at 29.97 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. 0800. Wind south force 2 with broken cloud. 0915.  Mustered Small Arms Company. Exercised Small Arms Company at cutlass drill. Noon. Position 19.57N. 39.4 E.  Course S26E at 9.5 knots. Wind SE by S force 2 with broken cloud. 1300. Make and mend clothes.1600. Wind SE force 2 with broken cloud. 1700. Sighted Fahal Hale. Evening Quarters. Exercised – Collision stations.  Coal expended 25 tons 6 cwt. Number on sick list 9.

At sea. Suez to Aden. Course S26E at 10.4 knots. Wind SSE force 1 with broken cloud and smooth sea. Barometer 29.97 inches rising to 30.03 at 0800 and falling to 29.98 at noon and to 29.95 at 1600 before rising to 30.02 at 2000 and finishing at 29.98 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 90F sea temperature 88F.  0800. Wind SSE force 1 with broken cloud. 0900. Divisions. As requisite. Noon. Position 1635N. 41.14E. Course S26E at 9 knots. 1300. Tested lifebuoy. 1545. Sighted Febel ?? (Text runs off the page.) 1600.  Wind SSE force 1 with blue sky. 1615. Evening Quarters. Exercised Action. Shifted spare parts.1627. Altered course to S23E. 1810. Altered course to S10E. 1919. F??? S ??? abeam (Unable to read handwriting). Altered course S25E at 8.2 knots. 2115. Sighted Jebel Zubair Island. 2140. Altered course to S20E. Coal expended 25 tons 8 cwt. Number on sick list 9.

At sea. Suez to Aden. Course S20E at 10.1 knots. Wind SE by S force 2 with overcast sky and smooth sea. Barometer 29.95 inches rising to 30.09 at 0800 before falling to 29.94 at 1600 and then rising to 30.03 and finishing at 30.05 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 89F. 0145. Sighted Jebel Lukur.(?) 0310. Altered course to S52E. 0545. Altered course to S17 ½ E. 0600. Cleaning ship. 0800 Wind SSE force 1 to 2 with broken cloud. 1032. Mokha abeam (See below). Noon. Position 13.3N. 43.13E. Course S17 ½ E at 10.5 knots. Wind SSE force 1 with broken cloud. 1230. Sighted Peruin Island. 1235. Altered course to S28E. 1500. Altered course to S69E. Eased to 70 revolutions. 1600. Wind SSE force 2 with broken cloud. 1628. Eased to 60 revolutions. 200. Light airs with broken cloud. Altered course to N83E. Coal expended 23 tons 11 cwt. Number on sick list 10.

(Sunday). At sea. Suez to Aden. Course N83E at 7.4 knots. Light airs and a smooth sea. Barometer 29.88 inches rising to 30.03 at 0800 and to 30.05 at noon before falling to 30.03 at 1600 and to 30.00 at 1800 before rising to 30.05 inches at 2000 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 91F.

0105. Sighted Cape Marshagh.
0345. Cape Marshag abeam. Altered course to N43W.
0640. Stopped.
0645. Made fast to buoy at Aden.
0650. HMS Pomone (Third class cruiser) proceeded for adjustment of compass.
0800. Wind SSE force 1 with broken cloud. Prepared for coaling. Discharged one stoker to HMS Otter and three ???? (Unable to read handwriting)

to HMS Melpomene. 1000. Commenced coaling. Discharged one Private to HMS Melpomene and received one in lieu. Seven stokers, two ordinary seamen, one (??) crew, 13 Seedies, 2 (???) and 6 (???) joined.

Noon. Wind SSE force 1 with broken cloud.
1300. Coaling ship.
1600. Wind SSE force 2 with broken cloud.
1945. Finished coaling.  Received 350 tons.
2000. Wind SSE force 1.

Coal expended 5 tons 11 cwt.  Number on sick list 7.

Moored at Aden. Wind east force 1 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.07 inches falling to 30.00 at noon and to 29.90 at 1600 before rising to 29.95 at 2000 and finishing at 30.03 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 90F. 0600. All boats crews away pulling. Exercised – Man and arm boats. Carries out boat firing.  0800. Wind east force 1 with broken cloud. Received 150 lbs of beef and 80 lbs of vegetables. Noon. Wind NE force 2 with broken cloud. 1300. As requisite. Received 800 lbs of bread. 1600. Wind ENE force 2 with broken cloud. Evening Quarters. Exercised all boats crews. Prepared for sea. Coal expended 4 cwt. Number on sick list 7.

Moored at Aden. Wind east force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.05 inches falling to 30.00 at 0800 and rising to 30.02 at noon and then falling to 29.98 at 1600 and to 29.95 at 2000 before finishing at 30.00 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 90F. Draught 14 feet 9 inches forward. 15 feet 9 inches aft. 0500. Unshackled. 0530. Slipped and proceed for Bombay. 0632. Connected up hand steering gear. 0632. Course N78E. 0800. Wind E by N force 2 with broken cloud and smooth sea. 0905. Divisions. As requisite. Training class at 6 inch Quick Fire gun drill. Noon. Position 12.58N 45.53E. Course N78E at 10.7 knots. Wind E by N force 2 with broken cloud. 1300. Watch as requisite. Training Class at heavy gun drill. 1600. Wind east force 2 to 3 with broken cloud. 1615. Evening Quarters. Exercised General Quarters. 1745. Passed RMS Caledonia. Scrub and wash clothes. 2000. Wind east force 2 with broken cloud. 2100. Port watch – man and arm ship. Coal expended 16 tons 8 cwt.  Number on sick list 6.

At sea Aden to Bombay. Course N78E at 10.4 knots with a slight sea. Wind E by N force 3 to 4 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.98 inches rising to 30.00 at 0800 and to 30.03 at noon before falling to 29.97 at 1600 and then rising to 29.98 at 2000 before finishing at 30.03 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 86F.  0600. Aired bedding. 0800. Wind ENE force 3 to 4 with broken cloud. Exercised watch at Batten down. Training class at 6 inch drill. Noon. Position 13.51½ N 49.56E. Course N78E at 10 knots. 1300. Make and mend clothes. 1600. Wind east force 1 with broken cloud. 1645. Exercised Small Arms Companies. Captains of Guns at drill in attachment of night sights. 2000. Wind SE by E force 2 to 3 with blue sky. Coal expended 21 tons 19 cwt. Number on sick list 7.

At sea Aden to Bombay. Course N78E at 10.4 knots. Wind SE force 2 with broken cloud and a smooth sea. Barometer 30.00 inches rising to 30.05 at 0800 and then falling to 30.02 at noon and to 29.98 at 1600 before rising to 30.03 at 2000 and finishing at 29.97 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 88F. 0800. Starboard watch – Batten down ship. Training class at instruction. Noon. Position 14.58N 54.15E. Course N78E at 10.5 knots. 1300. Training class at instruction. Remainder as requisite. 1600. Wind calm with broken cloud. 1630 Evening Quarters. Exercised – Away all boats crews. Coal expended 24 tons 12 cwt. Number on sick list 6.