| Title: | [?], Bombay to David Carse, Saintfield, Co. Down |
|---|---|
| ID | 561 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Carse/45 |
| Year | 1850 |
| Sender | A Carse sibling |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | navy officer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Bombay, India |
| Destination | Saintfield, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Carse, David |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | Donated by Mrs. I.J. Beattie, 120 Carsonstown Rd., Lisowen, Saintfield, Ballynahinch, Co. Down, BT24 7JN, N.Ireland. |
| Archive | Ulster American Folk Park. |
| Doc. No. | 9904071 |
| Date | 25/06/1850 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 07:04:99. |
| Word Count | 493 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Write on receipt Bombay 25th June 1850 My dear Brother I had this pleasure on the 2nd Inst. via express to Madras & I have since been favoured with your thrice welcome letter of 18th ulto. which has put me in possession of many interesting events both at home & elsewhere. In my last letter I had not time to record any remarkable incidents that occurred during the passage, neither is it possible to do [even?] [in?] a letter. However I may just mention a few. When off the coast of Africa to the Northward of the Cape de Verdes, we observed the Sails of the Ship of a reddish colour & on examing we found the [p----?] of the Sails full of Sand it was then pretty hot, with a red hazy atmosphere, we were about 550 Miles from the [Mainland?] incredible as this may appear, still it is not the less true. When we got near the Equator we were becalmed several days in company with about 20 Ships bound to all parts of the globe all Ships endeavour to cross the line in from 20ø to 25ø W [West?] longitude whether outward or homeward bound owing to the Trade winds which blow in one direction throughout the year in the Torrid Zone: that is N.E. and S.E. This part of the Atlantic & Indian Oceans abound with Fish of all kinds which afford considerable amusement fishing: The Flying Fish are in countless myriads, they rise in large schools when pursued by their greatest enemies the Dolphin or overtaken by a Ship, the [they?] can fly a good distance & frequently alight on the Ships deck. Shooting is another source of amusement. Birds of various kinds are very plentiful, the largest of which is the Albatross which resembles the Swan. I shot a number of them that measured Ten feet across the wings you may guess the [they?] are large aquatic Birds. One Sunday morning prevous [previous?] to approaching the Cape of Good Hope we were somewhat alarmed at seeing a very suspicious looking Brig about 2 Miles to leeward of us taking the same course, after Breakfast she asked what Ship? where from? where bound? & our longtitude? with Men of War Flags: we answered the several queries & asked their longitude, which just agreed with ours. shortly after she put about & sheered across our stern we of course made the obeisance requested to H.M. Ships, that is lowering down & hoisting up the Sails, when a few miles astern she tacked again, but the breeze having freshened, she did not overtake us. until 1 O'Clock the next morning she came close alongside & asked the same questions, the Commander said she was one of H.M. vessels from Sierra Leone bound to the Cape I think he must have lost his reckoning it is not usual for H.M. vessels to ask questions from Merchantmen. I have not space to say much about this wonderful place *envelope address: Via Marseilles [---?] Mr David Carse Saintfield Co Down Ireland |
