.Latitude 34.9S. Longitude 25.54E. Wind NE force 3 to 4 becoming light and variable. Under sail and stream 1700 anchored off Port Elizabeth. Algoa Bay. Barometer 30.20 inches. Course w by N.
0430 Commenced steaming. Observed a sail west.
0700. Observed land from N by E to west.
0815. Shortened sail and furled square sails. Course NW.
1200 land on starboard bow. Light house bearing N55W 12 nautical miles away but owing to the misty state of the atmosphere and the mirage we could not make out the land until 1515 when the light house was sighted.. About the same time the Island of St Croic and Jahiel were seen on the starboard bow and the houses of Port Elizabeth on the hill.
1700. Came to with sandy bottom in 7 fathoms and veered to 45 fathoms. Mended and furled sails. Anchor bearings. Fort Frederick W ½ S. Beacon Point S12E.
Remarks
During our passage we have had variable currents – not for two days together setting in the same direction except for the last two days when we were in the limits of the Agulhas current within 150 miles of the shore. We passes 2 or 3 sail on the way to the Cape. Numerous birds were generally hovering about the ship; chiefly Cape pigeons and albatross. Owing to the strong mirage on making the Bay were once or twice deceived as the appearance of the land and then we did not see the light until 15 when it bore SW 1/2W at the distance of about 6 nautical miles. The marks for Dispatch or Roman rock are the Red beacons and Light house in one ( Red and white) and two red and white square beacons with balls to the southward of Beacon Point, but on coming in we di not see the inner beacon owing to our looking for it along the shore as shown by the chart. Instead of which it is situated 1200 yards on higher land instead. The Port Elizabeth light is situated on the hill close to Donkin Monument and shows a fixed white light visible 12 nautical miles. From the balcony of the light house. The Time Ball is dropped at 1300 Cape mean Time corresponding to 1 hour 28 minutes mean time at this place. If failing it will be hoisted 8 minutes later. Latitude of lighthouse 33057’ -45S Longitude of lighthouse.250 37’-16E
Up to the 14th they had had a succession of westerly gales and during our stay we had light winds from the southward and eastward with a slight swell.
Coal lighters are large half-decked boats carrying about 12 to 18 tons which are loaded from the shore abreast the store houses and haul off through the surf. The stone breakwater is blocked up with sand and they are now trying to clear it but it is almost useless as the sea washes it in. they were sometime getting coal off owing to the heavy surf. some ws brought down already on the jetty and we received our first coal on the afternoon of the 17th taking in about 60 tons at the high price of £4 per ton.
