Thursday 24th March 1853

This morning with bright sky and quiet water we came in sight of Cape St Vincent arriving opposite to it at about 10 o’clock. All day the coast in view was abruptly rocky, both north and south of the Cape. On the summit of the rocky promontory stood a large monastery, whether in use as such at present or not, I do not know; but viewed through telescope it appeared a place well adapted to keep its inmates in privacy, having a somewhat castellated appearance... A little further southwards stood the fort of Sagnes, presenting to view a somewhat extended line of fortifications with a number of dwelling houses within and near it. A little further on mountains were seen evidently at a very  considerable distance inland; but in the foreground, stretching inland from the summit of the rocky precipice which formed the coast was a grassy surface, with here and there white objects resolving themselves under the telescope into country dwelling houses.Not far off were also discerned by its aid a few small windmills at work with curious white  triangular sails. Saw other portions of the coast also presented cliffs of a softer character, with a pleasant sandy beach. The sun shone out brightly and the deck was studded with groups of passengers enjoying the beauty of the scene...

...The sun, for the first time, set in an unclouded sky, sinking down behind the horizon of water, while the full moon, already above the horizon in the east, gained in brilliancy by the withdrawal of the orb of day... In the absence of land the only thing that gave visible evidence of progress was the occasional occurrence of a sail, which, now in advance of us, speedily was left behind. A vessel in full sail passed us in the evening, visible by the soft light of the full moon in a cloudless sky, but I could not long enjoy the scene having been occupied all evening in preparing letters for Gibraltar, which we were now rapidly approaching, and in anticipation of which I had to make preparations for rising early next morning.

The full journal will be published by Annet House Museum, Linlithgow in May. Waldie's journey to India will form a key feature of the museum's Waldie exhibition which will open to the public on 18 May.