Voyage To India

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A Voyage To India

On The Voyage From Boston To Bombay

Rev. Henry J. Bruce, 1862, missionary to India

(Clearly not pre-revolutionary, we thought this offering interesting as exemplifying the fact that many of the early New England families had in suceeding generations a family member who chose the avocation of ministry.)

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In 1862 Rev. Bruce, a graduate of Amherst, was a New England Missionary who, descending from the early comers, now went out to conduct a ministry in India that would last a lifetime. They bore seven children, all of whom acquired their education in the states, all of whom helped with the ministry in their youth, but none of whom took up the calling as their own. Rev. Bruce's wife, Hepsibeth Goodnow Bruce, newly wed and but eighteen, kept a journal of this four-month journey to a new land. Here we provide a glimpse.

Ship Whampoa, Boston Harbor, October 30, 1862:

	Scarcely one half hour remains before the time appointed for sailing away from our own dear native land. (Later) While we were dining I had a new experience. All the time the strange song of the sailors, in connection with raising the anchor, sounded in my ears, and continued, for a long time till the sails were spread. Now, indeed we are "out on an ocean sailing" for the land of our adoption and future labors.
	Nov 11. Lat 32.8,Long 48.27. Distance from Boston 1402 miles. The captain's wife who has lived upon the sea principally for fifteen years; has been very kind to the sick folks--our physician. The captain seems to be disappointed in this ship; says she does not sail as fast as he expected. Now we are about in the latitude of Charleston. I can imagine the friends at home as well as though I was in Boston.
	Nov. 14 lat 31.49 Long 46 Distance from Boston, 1520 miles. Today we saw some of the inhabitants of the mighty deep. This forenoon what was supposed to be a whale made its appearance several times at some distance from the stern of the ship. It was probably a small whale (if this be not a contradiction of terms). It certainly did not look like a very little animal, as its great smooth, black back rose above the waves when it "spouted." (A discovery) "I suppose that the bright lights frequently seen about vessels in the evening . . . is in some way effected by little animals in the water. This afternoon he (Henry) caught one of these delicate little things in a bucket, and took it very carefully from a cup of water with some pieces of glass (for it was extremely thin, and scarcely an eighth of an inch in diameter; who would have thought it a fish?) How beautiful! How perfect when made a microscopic object. After examining it a while through his microscope, it exposed a defined circular center with the most exquisite radiations, reminding of a very beautiful shell. He preserved it until darkness, to prove whether or not this was the animal which produced the phosphorescent light so abundantly seen sometimes. In our stateroom tonight the water being agitated in the cup which contained it, it emitted a few sparks of light. Others were called to witness the phenomenon, but they were too late. It had probably expired. This afternoon another scene awaited us -- a school of black fish, which are a species of whale varying in length the captain tells us from twelve to twenty feet.
	Nov. 20: Distance from Boston 1966 miles. Life at sea seems unsteady as we "reel to and fro." We can hardly take sufficient exercise, so difficult is it to walk on deck. But said the captain you don't know what 'tis to have a ship roll if you've never been in any other but this, indicating that we should have some experience in going round the cape.
	Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, November 27: How beautiful the evening when the moon and stars come forth and, perchance, the guitar accompanies the vocal music on deck with the carpenter's accordion not to be despised pouring forth its strains upon the lovely air.
	November 29: Yesterday we saw schools upon schools of flying fish rising up out of the water like so many birds, and flying a considerable distance.
	December 2: Today we had the pleasure of saluting two English vessels, and speaking to one of them bound of Valpaaiso. Our captain was rather adverse to holding conversation with her, but she made so much effort, and came so near, that he called for a trumpet and a dialogue ensued, much to our satisfaction. I was thankful that we had a larger and more convenient vessel. Saw one of the most beautiful rainbows tonight that I ever saw.
	December 6. Distance from Boston 4,322 miles., about one hundred and fifty miles from the coast of Brazil and only nine miles from the island Roccas. It is near to the island of Fernando Noronha, a place for Brazilian convicts. We have made about twelve hundred miles this week. The southeast trades are said to be much more serene than the northeast' an it has, indeed, seemed so to me.
	Dec. 13 Distance from Boston 5,427 miles. A barque seen yesterday came so close as to raise her flags. Theirs was by name "Marnix," bound for Rotterdam. "Speaking a vessel" is often a dangerous matter and the captain seems nervous.
	Dec. 15. Yesterday and today we have had unfavorable winds, head sea and a cold south wind . . .most all of us are feeling uncomfortable.
	Dec. 17. Distance from Boston 5,902. Porpoises. There were very many, and some of them leaped up several feet above the water,, then rapidly plunged down again in their play, as it seemed; and the effect was grand. I heard the captain say in whatever direction the porpoises went from that quarter, the wind would blow.
	Dec. 19: The captain measured the length of the ship yesterday, and found it to be two hundred and one feet three inches. Thus, being able to take his oath that the vessel is over two hundred feet long, he will obtain a better berth in Bombay Harbor.
	Christmas,December 25: Distance from Boston 7,561 miles. We saw a large albatross this morning. Mr. Carter said he presumed it would measure eleven or twelve feet. Another was seen this afternoon, and a new kind of fish. First a curious looking animal presented itself to our view, lying on its side, perhaps two or three feet in length, which if not the "sunfish" of science, yet is so called by fishermen, who extract oil from it, which is made very useful to sailors, by applying it to bruises, and such; and second were some fish Henry caught in the salt water being about quarter of an inch in length, swimming about right merrily. Next a beautiful bird paid us a visit taking its position on the spanker boom. It was certainly very pretty, with a long bill, black head, white breast. and grayish wings.
	January 1, 1863. Distance from Boston 8,696 miles. The day when four million slaves shall be declared free! The day when Mr.Constantine will raise over his Grecian dwelling the American flag--and write us a letter. God only knows the surroundings of our dear ones; may He hold them in his hands. We feel as if we were thoroughly in the Indian ocean, having passed cape Agulhas, the most southerly point of Africa.
	Monday, January 5, Distance from Boston 9,298 miles. It was when we were dining that there was a sudden noise--a flapping of the sails--not so intelligible to my ear as to Captain Prichard and Mr. Carter, who hastened from the table. Then a scene of excitement followed. A sudden squall arose, and nearly all the sails being set, the ship became unmanageable and was driven backwards.The captain gave orders at the height of his voice which were reiterated in the same tone by the first and second mates. The ship rolled from side to side, by the forces of the waves and once the studding sail boom, some forty feet above the deck, touched the surface of the water. In an hour or two the gale abated.
	Wednesday, january 14: Henry told me today that McClellan was the greatest conchologist in America--throwing shells (bombshells) down south!
	Friday January 16: Henry introduced me this morning as his wife, nineteen years old. One said "nineteen years hence may you be two years older than the captain, inasmuch as the captain has for years been thirty-six years old last January, or else about to be, next January.
	January 31: Distance from Boston 12,686. Innumerable jellies have been seen in the ocean, some having the appearance of snakes, set with sparkling gems at intervals. Others, at a greater depth in the water, look like single emeralds. A bucket full of water was preserved, and when, on being agitated by the hand the phosphorescent phenomenon exhibited about the wake of a ship was manifested. Saw the evening star set. This is certainly remarkable, inasmuch as both Mr. Stenson and the captain said they never before saw a star set.
	February 5 Distance from Boston 13,075. My husband is twenty-eight years old today. I suppose we have crossed the equator today and 1,200 miles the distance we have now to make, seem only a little distance. Mr Carter says he would not trust three of the sailors out of sight. "Can they be so wicked," I asked? He replied, I am only giving you my opinion, I presume yours is better than mine. Each sailor carries a knife in a sheath attached to a leather strap about his waist which serves him for his work when on deck, and also for eating.
	February 7. Distance from Boston 13,196 miles. I have pretty faithfully attended to my journal, but I think it will be impracticable for me to copy any more of it for my friends at home both because of the precious time it takes, and because the size of my manuscript is increasing so much. . ..
	Bombay. Came to anchor in Bombay harbor, on Tuesday, March 3 at about one and a half o'clock, having been out one hundred and twenty four days, without once seeing land, until that day the mountains of India were discerned. We were welcomed by some missionary brethren from Bombay, and we left the ship Whampoa, and were rowed ashore to India's soil.