Monday, February 26, 2007

May 6th


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pretty rocks of Emerald Green which is charming to behold.
May 6th We arrived at Kobe, going on shore with Miss Jaques, and Mrs Kobe (a sweet little Japanese lady). The first thing we proposed to do, was to get into rikishas, and go to the waterfall tea house, which we did, and had tea, the scenery being very “picturesque” and “mountainous” heavy rain coming down in the evening. Not leaving the port till the following morning at 11 am in a wet and heavy mist.
May 8th ended our long sea voyage bringing us to Yokohama about 2pm bringing us to Yokohama about 2pm. Jolly glad to land for a time on shore. The voyage being a most delightful one having good weather and calm seas. With a delightful class of passengers, nevertheless I’m sure we were all glad to rest on land, after being couped up in a cabin on board for nearly six weeks.

View of Nagasaki (click for a closer look)




Here's a view of Nagasaki in May 1905. Note that the colours have been drawn in afterwards to try to bring the photo to life. There's quite a lot of detail in there if you look carefully.

May 4th


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start to go on board again in half an hour reaching the dear old vessel “Moon” about 10 am leaving the port in the evening having lost most of our passengers. The next day opened with bright sunshine, and few passengers left on board. The “Steamers Moon” reaching the end of her journey.
May 4th brought us to the first Japanese port Nagasaki. Going on shore with a gentleman, we visited the first “Shinto Temple” being compelled to take my shoes off, before I could get a look inside, which was nothing much to see after all, afterwards taking a ride round, it was beautiful to see the lovely flowers growing, and the attractive Japanese girls having to leave “Nagasaki” behind us at the early hour of three in the afternoon to a “more beautiful sight” the Inland Sea with its

April 30th/May 1st


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to see what there was interesting and discussing if we should venture to the “Native City” finally making up our minds to do so. Mr Walford called three rikshas and away we were sailing through the narrow Chinese streets to the old city, our ride ended. We engaged a Chinese guide to escort us. The streets were frightfully narrow and on either side all kinds of industry were going on. The Willow pattern tea garden being the most attractive thing to see in the “Chinese Native City.” Having seen enough, we returned to the Aston House, and took tea. Afterwards Mr Walford and Miss Jaques returned to the “Steamers Moon,” myself taking a night’s rest on land.
May 2nd we were called at the early hours of seven O’clock and to

April 30th


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playing “Shovel board” in the afternoon, and cards in the evening.
April 30th Began brighter and warmer the sun appearing, and the “Ship Moon” once more making its way ahead, to Shanghai, where we were over due, causing some anxieties there, our vessel not being heard of for two days reaching the “aforesaid port” at 11pm all passengers ready to land but had to stay on board for the night.
May1st We got up in bright spirits and ready to start by the first vessel to land us in “Shangai City” which we reached about ten O’clock. On landing we got into Jinrikshas, and was taken to the “Astor House,” taking luncheon there with the Misses Jaques and Coulson and Mr Walford; lunchen being over, we strolled up the “Bund.”

April 27th


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highly amused the pair of us to be danced up and down, by two men, at any rate, our adventures were very successful and we returned to the “Ship Moon” early in the afternoon.
April 27th brought us a great change in the weather, to cold and damp that made us put away our thin clothes and make ourselves comfortable in winter ones. On the evening I sat on lower deck and heard a very interesting conversation from Ms Wakefield on “education in Bengal,” the following day being cold and wet which I spent in the saloon sewing and playing games.April 29th Still cold and damp, with a thick mist that our captain had to anchor us for 36 hours, not knowing where we had got to having not seen the sun for a day or two. I amused myself by

Thursday, February 22, 2007

April 26th


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At the Hong Kong Hotel. On rising the next morning , I explored the shops, and when I had seen sufficient of the town Miss Jaques and myself started for the Peak railway, going on foot some distance, we found (by asking an English gentleman) that we were going the wrong way. The gentleman kindly offering to escort us to the Peak Tramway, which we accepted, all three of us getting into Jinrikshas, and being driven to the tramway station where we got into a tram and our guide bidding us farewell, away we sailed up to the peak where one can get a view of sea and land for 4 miles. The scenery being most magnificent. On returning Miss Jauques suggested that we should be taken from the station to the Hotel in a “Sedan Chair” so for curiosity I agreed to the proposition, and it

April 22nd


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April 22nd Feeling still very lonely, over the loss of our passengers, in the morning watched the moon rise at half past eight, which is a most beautiful sight at sea, everything seems more impressive on the shiny ocean. The next day was Sunday, I attended divine service in the first class saloon. Hodgkiss gave an address.
April 24th I was sea sick, the boat was rolling a little though the sea was not rough now, however my spirits were good, and I soon recovered.
April 26th We arrived at Hongkong, our first Chinese port, being night when the “Steamers Moon” came into the harbour, it was a most glorious night, it struck me as being in “fairy land” the lights from the different vessels lying in the harbour. Once more we were able to take a night’s rest on land

April 20th


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which enabled a great many to take a night’s rest on shore in Raffles hotel, myself being one of them, and to horrible sunshine was awakened at 6 O’clock, by a wretched pigtail boy, bringing me a delicious cup of tea, with bread, butter and bananas, which I jumped out of bed and took and returned to my “Mosquito Cage” to eat, drink and sleep if possible, nevertheless I rested till 8 O’clock, when I took a walk down the esplanade to try and feel a breeze, if ever any could be felt in Singapore, returning to the Steamers Moon at 11am and leaving port at noon. Feeling somewhat sad all day, having left some dear friends behind on shore at uninteresting Singapore.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

April 20th

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carriage (which we left at the gates) and walked through the gardens which are beyond words to express the beauty of in writing. The natives interested us very much by passing to and fro (there was some festivity on, which we didn’t understand) but nevertheless their attire was assuring to us strangers wearing lots of rings in their ears, noses and toes. So after being satisfied with what we had seen, in a short time the captain had given us, we returned to the “Steamers moon” refreshed for the sight of Penang.

The next day April 20th brought us to Singapore, where I’m sorry to say, we lose the best of the “Moon’s” passengers arriving in port in the evening. The captain gave orders, that the ship would remain there till noon the next day,

April 16th


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April 16th Being Sunday, which I spent quietly in reading and talking, the latter which I can always do plenty of, and in the evening I attended service in the second class saloon. The following two days being very hot and stormy, thunder prevailing around us.
April 19th Brought us to the Port of Penang. Most of the passengers going on shore to take in what sights of interest there was to behold. Immediately on landing Miss Paris and myself jumped into a “Garry” to drive and see the “botanical gardens,” which we had learned was the most place of interest to see at Penang. On riding along the road I could almost picture myself being driven through a lane in England to see the beautiful wild flowers growing, and to smell the fragrance after a heavy shower. On reaching the gardens, we jumped out of the

Saturday, February 17, 2007

April 15th


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April 15th We arrived at Colombo to behold a most beautiful port ever one could wish to see, with the trees all blooming in brilliant colours; after spending some time in the shops of interest, myself with the Misses Paris and Coulion placed ourselves in a “Garry,” to be driven round the “Cinnamon Gardens” and take in the beautiful scenery of Colombo as much as we could in the time we were allowed on shore. One thing striking me most was the little “native boys” of seven to eight years carrying little black babies slung at their side from (I should imagine) a few weeks old and upwards, imploring the visitors to give them money.
After spending a delightful time in a picturesque tropic we proceeded on our journey to the East feeling sea sick in the evening, but soon to recover, and enjoy the voyage.

Thursday, February 1, 2007

April 9th


(continued from last page) It didn’t look a very interesting place from the port but much more assuring to watch the natives cooking and selling their wares by hauling them up with ropes the side of the vessel. The natives themselves are an “awful sight of humanity” to behold, a “picture,” one cannot easily forget when once seen.

April 9th which was the Sabbath, we spent a very quiet day, it still being frightfully hot and in the evening we had a nice well attended “divine service.” Monday the 10th of April started a week of “sports” for the "Steamers Moon’s" passengers which took place each day between the hours of 3 till 6 (after the intense heat of the mid-day sun had passed) each day bringing some different races both to male and female, and proving a most “brilliant week” ever was spent on board. The “Sultan of Johore” being very popular among the passengers.

April 5th

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not to see an interesting town but to procure helmets to shield them from the burning sun.
4th April we found ourselves passing through the Suez Canal, which was interesting and amusing to see the natives at work and the quaint houses and stations.
April 5th We had come to the Red Sea where we found it frightfully hot but the sea was beautifully calm without any breeze at all which made it worse to bear.
April 9th The day before we arrived at "Aden", the heat being too much for many passengers to sleep in their cabins, they prepared their beds on deck, while others stood and watched the lightening which was most beautiful to see. The next day we arrived at "Aden," which I believe is the hottest place on Earth. None of the "Moon’s" passengers being allowed to land because of plague