Monday 11th April 1853

The weather appeared to be getting rather warmer and the breeze was now against us, being southerly. In the afternoon it became almost calm. About 11 o’clock a steamer was observed in the distance which rapidly approached us, as we fired guns and made signals for a communication. When sufficiently near a boat pushed off with the Chief Officer and the Admiralty Agent who went on board the steamer which was the Oriental ( mail steamer) on her way to Suez. Many of the passengers sent letters on board and I prepared one myself but from the suddenness with which the boat put off I along with many others were disappointed. After our boat’s return we resumed our voyage, as did the Oriental.
The general arrangements in the Bentinck were similar to those of the Ripon, but in a few points they differed. We had champagne twice a week as on the Ripon but no soda water was allowed except paid for. We had claret, however and vin de graves which we had not had on the Ripon, and claret and water often took the place of tea and coffee, being cooler. There was need for something of the kind as the water was both muddy and brackish. Butter was kept in small stoneware jars, (Stephen Green’s patent covered) and marmalades and jams and jellies were frequently substituted at breakfast. The bread was very good.
I have forgotten to mention that the crew was principally composed of lascars and was very numerous. The stewards were English and a few sailors also. The Lascars slept about the decks lying about on the main deck amidst all the close air and heat- proceeding from the engine and the cooking apparatus. My own cabin was on the main deck and it was often troublesome picking my way amongst the sleeping sailors in the evening... On the whole they looked very well. Some of these were robust men and most of them small and slight. Usually they were dirty enough both in person and in dress the latter in many cases consisting of only something wrapped round the loins. There were also some Chinese amongst the crew viz two carpenters, easily recognised by their physiognomy...


The full journal will soon be published by Annet House Museum, Linlithgow. Waldie's journey to India forms a key feature of the museum's Waldie exhibition.