Shipboard: the 19th century emigrant experience

opprobious names they could think of. In the twinkling of an eye they had pulled its whiskers out, and appropriated them to be placed in a silver amulet or charm to be worn on the arm or round the neck.
Upon examining the carcass we found my bullet had penetrated the lungs and heart from behind the shoulder so that death must have been almost instantaneous, and probably rendered A’s shot unnecessary. We soon has "Stripes" slung to the Bam-boo and made quite a triumphant party as we slowly returned to my Bungalow followed by an admiring crowd of men, wo-men and children, all yelling at the top of their voices. So ended my first day’s experience with a tiger. I may mention that the animal turned out to be a young tigress measuring 9 feet 3 inches from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. The skin was a very perfect one, very well marked; I had it preserved & subsequently sent it home to one of my friends in England. 
"Victor Secundus"
Parramatta 
14 Novr 1802
The Equatorial Sports.
Having crossed the line on Monday afternoon of the 6th of November, the usual Equatorial Sports were held on the main deck the following day, presenting some novel features to the landsmen and others making their first voyage. A start was made about 2 p.m. Mr Shardlow our indefatigable Chief Officer acting as Starter, Messrs Michael and

depends upon the fortuitous entry of the competition rather than actual strength – Surely some more approved plan could be adopted. Peterson secured the first prize and Houghton the second.
The Sack Race caused the usual amount of fun but the risk of accident from a tumble must be greatly enhanced then when such a contest takes place upon a greensward as on land. 
Ottewill secured first place, Vincent 2nd and Peterson 3rd.
Long jump standing Mr Baker started this by an apparently easy jump without much effort but it took a lot of beating, finally the result was Leonard first 8ft 10in. Burton second 8 feet, Devan making a plucky effort for a little fellow however only came third.
Deck chalking was the next item in the programme, this was another of the peculiarly nautical games. A rope was attached to the lifeboat & hung to within about a foot of the deck where a good sized loop was made, with this loop the feet of the competitor are hitched, he thus supporting himself face downwards & by the aid of his hands, the feat is then to pro-pel the body by the aid of the hands until it gets as nearly in a perpendicular position as possible head downwards & supporting yourself with an hand to make a chalk mark with the other as far from the point of starting as possible and then to recover the horizontal position at starting. This latter seems the great difficulty of the feat as there is always the tendency of the body to swing round with tension of the rope. We must mention that two of the boys Tommy Dodd and Peter Merreyfield made plucky efforts in this event made the latter eventually taking first place. Mr Ottewill one of the passengers, whom we learn had never tried the feat before, making a very good second, and Deven third.
The Greasy Pole Climbing elicted the fun to be expected. The boy Merrefield who took the [indecipherable]

The taming of Bucephalus
A new version of an old story.
In the Kingdom of Greece there once lived a queer horse
Whose head was so large and whose tail was so coarse,
That they called him "Bous", which, an ox means d’yr see?
To which name they added the Greek Cephale.
Now this horse was so wild, that ‘tis said, none was able,
To mount, nor to make him go into a stable.
But "Sandy the Big" vowed by rain, fire and thunder,
And the Delphic Oracle, I’ll make him knock under.
So, on one day, when the people assembled,
The horse was brought out and the multitude trembled,
For he kicked and he shied, and he played such mad tricks,
As made the men stare – sent the women in fits.
Appelles came out with his brush in his hand,
"Why he’ll never make such a vicious beast stand",
And [indecipherable] exclaimed, as he twanged at his lute,
"Well! I never saw such a wild skittish brute!"
King Phillip alarmed, cried, "Jupiter Ammon"!
"Dont mount him my boy, or you’re dead as a salmon,
"You Mother, no doubt, would make a great row,
"And my life, Jesu help me! Is bad enough now.
Alexander the Great, paid no heed to their cries,
Nor yet to the savage beasts plunges and shies,
With one sudden spring he leaped on his back,
And spurred with his heels and hit him a whack.
And away they both fly with the speed of the wind
Till the King and his courtiers are left far behind,
King Phillip exclaims as he chuckles with glee,
"The like of my son, you’ll none of you see."
Classicus
The writer of the foregoing has overlooked the main feature of this incident. Alexander observing that the animal was frightened by his own shadow, took advantage of his knowledge of the fact, turned the hack’s head to the sun, leapt upon his back and urging him in a direction that he could not see his own reflection, subdued the animal which was then tamed.
[Ed. P.P.]

the little competitors prizes, consisting of toys, the captains own photographs, books & sweets, these latter were kindly handed to the small folk by Mr Houlding with a few genial and appropriate remarks to each.
Equatorial Sports prize distribution.
On the evening of the 8th of November the prizes gained during the Equatorial sports of the day previously were gracefully distributed by Miss Moulton to the successful competitors. Her Majesty in future was seated at a small table covered with the Union Jack & placed upon the Poop. The details of the competitors we have given elsewhere, the amount distributed being upwards of £7. The whole of sum went to the members of the Crew as though several of the passengers were successful in the contests they each stood on one side the prize going to the next best man if one of the Sailors.