Glossary of terms and editorial notes on James Smeal's Morning Light diary and his account of the Eliza shipwreck.
For explanations please go to the main Glossary. For words beginning with another letter use the Glossary drop-down menu.
a - c
&c
et cetera is written as &c in the diary.
Meaning: and other unspecified things; and so forth
abeam
A direction relative to the middle of the side of a ship, perpendicular to a line from fore to aft.
24-11-1860: ‘...one [ship] abeam on the port distant 4 miles...’
See also: beam
beam
The port or starboard side of a ship. In the diary mention is also made of the lee beam, i.e. the downwind side.
The beam of a ship is the widest part of the vessel.
24-11-1860: ‘...three ships in sight, one a Brigantine homeward bound distant 8 miles on the starboard beam, the other two outward bound, one abeam on the port distant 4 miles...’
A beam is also a horizontal structural element, such as the beam to which a dangerous crew member was chained on 15-11-1860.
bell, ship's
The ringing of the ship's bell indicates the time in half-hour units, repeating every 4 hours, e.g. four bells indicates that the time is 2, 6, or 10 a.m., etc. The maximum number of bells is 8, rung at 4 and 8 a.m., midday, 4 and 8 p.m. and midnight.
4-11-1860: ‘When I went down just as 2 bells rung I found the place in a terrible mess.’ In the context this would be 5 o’clock in the morning with the above bell-ringing schedule being followed.
An unfortunate trip to the FeeJee Islands: ‘At 2 bells (9 p.m.) the wind again rose not so fierce at first but increasing in power every minute.’
The bell on the Morning Light was also rung on special occasions.
31-12-1860: ‘As all seemed to be going on quietly, I and my mate turned into bed, but at 12 o'clock the ship bell began to ring fearfully and the band struck up in the saloon. We were all obliged to get up again to wish each other a happy new year, and to see the new year in.’
berth
Sleeping place on a ship.
24-10-1860: ‘There are not many Scotch people on board, but in the next berth to mine there are a Scotch Lady and 2 daughters and a son, from Fraserburgh who are very agreeable people.’
27-10-1860: ‘On account of the rain, however, they are unable to get on deck so that the berths cannot get so well aired as I should like.’
4-11-1860 during a storm: ‘There was at the time a young man in the lower berth with a broken arm, and the oil fell through the boards of the upper berth and completely soaked him and his bedding.’
5-11-1860: ‘The rules are that the intermediate and steerage passengers shall be up at 6, and have all their berths cleaned out and be ready for breakfast at 8 o'clock. Then the tables must be cleaned, dishes washed and berths shut up, so that the scavengers may be able to commence their work of scraping and brushing the floors at 9 o'clock.’
9-11-1860: ‘...spread a good deal of Disinfecting Powder about the steerage as there seems to be some disagreeable effluvia about the berths...’
20-2-1861 on the way to Auckland after leaving Melbourne: ‘The ship is being cleared of all unused berths down stairs so as to be ready for receiving her cargo of Guano when she gets to Callao on the west coast of S. America.’
clipper ship
A sailing ship of the mid 1800s, with multiple square-rigged sails and a specially shaped hull designed for speed. The Morning Light was an outstanding example.
On the long voyage from Liverpool to Australia via the seas to the west and south of Africa, clippers were faster and more economical than steam ships. However, the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 provided an advantage to steamers because fewer coaling stations were now needed while the Mediterranean and the Suez were not suitable for sailing ships.
See also Morning Light
23-10-1860: 'There are several fine vessels lying in the river at present, both loading and unloading, but every vessel looks small beside this magnificent specimen of naval architecture - "Morning Light".'
14-11-1860: ‘The "Morning Light" must be a beautiful sight at a short distance with her six thousand (6000) square yards of white canvas spread.’
course lights
Navigation lights that indicate the direction in which the vessel is sailing.
An unfortunate trip to the FeeJee Islands: ‘The Captain turned in at 4 bells (2 a.m.) after seeing that the course lights were all properly adjusted, and leaving instructions for the night.’
cutter
A single-masted sailing vessel, designed for speed.
An unfortunate trip to the Feejee Islands opens with the lines: ‘At 5 p.m. of the 12th day of May 1861, the Eliza, a beautiful cutter of 30 tons, let go her moorings and proceeded to sea for Awalu, or Takanova,- the chief of the Feejees - a group in the South Sea Islands.’
et cetera is written as &c in the diary.
Meaning: and other unspecified things; and so forth
abeam
A direction relative to the middle of the side of a ship, perpendicular to a line from fore to aft.
24-11-1860: ‘...one [ship] abeam on the port distant 4 miles...’
See also: beam
beam
The port or starboard side of a ship. In the diary mention is also made of the lee beam, i.e. the downwind side.
The beam of a ship is the widest part of the vessel.
24-11-1860: ‘...three ships in sight, one a Brigantine homeward bound distant 8 miles on the starboard beam, the other two outward bound, one abeam on the port distant 4 miles...’
A beam is also a horizontal structural element, such as the beam to which a dangerous crew member was chained on 15-11-1860.
bell, ship's
The ringing of the ship's bell indicates the time in half-hour units, repeating every 4 hours, e.g. four bells indicates that the time is 2, 6, or 10 a.m., etc. The maximum number of bells is 8, rung at 4 and 8 a.m., midday, 4 and 8 p.m. and midnight.
4-11-1860: ‘When I went down just as 2 bells rung I found the place in a terrible mess.’ In the context this would be 5 o’clock in the morning with the above bell-ringing schedule being followed.
An unfortunate trip to the FeeJee Islands: ‘At 2 bells (9 p.m.) the wind again rose not so fierce at first but increasing in power every minute.’
The bell on the Morning Light was also rung on special occasions.
31-12-1860: ‘As all seemed to be going on quietly, I and my mate turned into bed, but at 12 o'clock the ship bell began to ring fearfully and the band struck up in the saloon. We were all obliged to get up again to wish each other a happy new year, and to see the new year in.’
berth
Sleeping place on a ship.
24-10-1860: ‘There are not many Scotch people on board, but in the next berth to mine there are a Scotch Lady and 2 daughters and a son, from Fraserburgh who are very agreeable people.’
27-10-1860: ‘On account of the rain, however, they are unable to get on deck so that the berths cannot get so well aired as I should like.’
4-11-1860 during a storm: ‘There was at the time a young man in the lower berth with a broken arm, and the oil fell through the boards of the upper berth and completely soaked him and his bedding.’
5-11-1860: ‘The rules are that the intermediate and steerage passengers shall be up at 6, and have all their berths cleaned out and be ready for breakfast at 8 o'clock. Then the tables must be cleaned, dishes washed and berths shut up, so that the scavengers may be able to commence their work of scraping and brushing the floors at 9 o'clock.’
9-11-1860: ‘...spread a good deal of Disinfecting Powder about the steerage as there seems to be some disagreeable effluvia about the berths...’
20-2-1861 on the way to Auckland after leaving Melbourne: ‘The ship is being cleared of all unused berths down stairs so as to be ready for receiving her cargo of Guano when she gets to Callao on the west coast of S. America.’
clipper ship
A sailing ship of the mid 1800s, with multiple square-rigged sails and a specially shaped hull designed for speed. The Morning Light was an outstanding example.
On the long voyage from Liverpool to Australia via the seas to the west and south of Africa, clippers were faster and more economical than steam ships. However, the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 provided an advantage to steamers because fewer coaling stations were now needed while the Mediterranean and the Suez were not suitable for sailing ships.
See also Morning Light
23-10-1860: 'There are several fine vessels lying in the river at present, both loading and unloading, but every vessel looks small beside this magnificent specimen of naval architecture - "Morning Light".'
14-11-1860: ‘The "Morning Light" must be a beautiful sight at a short distance with her six thousand (6000) square yards of white canvas spread.’
course lights
Navigation lights that indicate the direction in which the vessel is sailing.
An unfortunate trip to the FeeJee Islands: ‘The Captain turned in at 4 bells (2 a.m.) after seeing that the course lights were all properly adjusted, and leaving instructions for the night.’
cutter
A single-masted sailing vessel, designed for speed.
An unfortunate trip to the Feejee Islands opens with the lines: ‘At 5 p.m. of the 12th day of May 1861, the Eliza, a beautiful cutter of 30 tons, let go her moorings and proceeded to sea for Awalu, or Takanova,- the chief of the Feejees - a group in the South Sea Islands.’
