Journal of H.M.S. Barracouta, 10 July 1874-30 March 1876

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File LOG/N/B/3

Content Summary:

Details of: Voyage to Australia - weather, duties on board, amateur dramatics, visit to St. Helena; Cape Town; arrival Perth; impressions of Perth - social engagements at Club, cricket match; Adelaide - 'noted for its fine buildings', Botanical Gardens, social engagements; Sydney; Melbourne - take on board Governor of Fiji; Brisbane - visitors on board, first time a man of war in the Brisbane River, Officer's lunch at Parliament buildings, visit to Darling Downs, cricket match; Sydney - description of various areas; Hobart - visited by members of Legislative Council 'a jolly set of old gentlemen', social engagements, visit to brewery and Lady Franklin's Museum; Sydney - Ball at Government House; taking officials to Fiji, including Arthur Gordon 'passengers are not very jovial and don't mix with us'; Levuka - description of vegetation; arrival of Pearl landing Governor; take Dr McGregor to visit principal Windward Islands where people reported starving; description of natives and their canoes; Suva Harbour; misunderstanding between Governor and Captain Stevens; voyage round islands; news of death of Commodore Goodenough at Santa Cruz; visit to sugar plantation in Suva; visit to Raro Island; staying at Swan's cotton plantation; taking Governor round various islands; Samoa - British Consul informs Captain of complaints of white residents against Samoan Government; relationship of Colonel Steinburger with Samoan Government; pleasures of Samoa; 'women are generally good looking and well made' - their clothing; arrest of Steinburger's yacht by American Consul for carrying arms; description of Apia Harbour; meetings between Stevens, the King, Steinburger, Premier and other local persons re complaints against Steinburger; arguments re Steinburger's credentials; Stevens declares against Steinburger and for independence of English, American and German residents - other white men were sworn as subjects of one of the three nations who have Consuls; 'Steinburger called … an unprincipled adventurer'; visit to coconut plantation; further political consultations with Consuls; the King dismisses Steinburger and asks for American protection; Steinburger taken on board Barracouta as political prisoner; King dethroned for having discussed Steinburger without consulting his Government; sale of Steinburger's effects; Ommanney suspended from duty; visiting other islands; Pago Pago Harbour; 'our worthy Captain proceeded on shore with his normal lordly air, as if he would like all the natives to bow before him'; meetings with Chiefs regarding dethronement of King ending in gunfire; ordered to sail for Auckland.

(259p.)

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