The author describes his feelings as he leaves New York; seasickness; a stowaway found; learning German during the voyage; games; progress of the ship; food; crossing the tropic of Cancer; Christmas; the weather; crossing the line, with a detailed description of the ceremony; New Years Eve, with lobster and champagne; South East trade winds; passengers quarrelling, and put in irons; ships spoken to, and another vessel's Captain and his wife coming on board for a meal; passtimes such as singing, dancing, raffles; catching a shark and a dolphin; death on board; visit to Cape Town and surrounds; seeing the SS Great Britain bound for England with gold from Australia, which buoys their spirits; making tents on deck for when they get to the mines It is accompanied by notes about the vessel and the author. The author was a first class passenger, travelling alone. Also accompanied by notes from the transcriber about the transcription, and about vessels mentioned in the diary.
