9 p.m.—The wardroom officers bought some birds at Dakar, but did not buy food for them. They fed them with anything they could find, and now they are beginning to die.
Usually the band plays at lunch on holidays. To-day they suddenly began playing at dinner.
At meals we drink more than we eat. We suffer from dreadful thirst and drink pure water, mineral waters, red and white wine, beer, and different kinds of lemon juices. The admiral suffers most of all from the heat. During the coaling, when all doors and ports were closed, the temperature in his cabin reached 45° R. There are now 27° in my cabin, with the port open and the fans going which drive in the fresh air.
Some of the officers have bought themselves mats and sleep on them in the wardroom. The crew sleep on the upper deck.
Last night something happened to the engines of the transport Malay. All the fleet stopped and waited for her.
About 4 a.m. the Donskoi signalled that sand had got into her Kingston valves. That means the ship had passed a shallow spot, although the fleet was steaming 90 versts (sixty miles) from land. After the mishap to the Donskoi they went further out to sea.
It will doubtless be very hot to-day. Do you know, the floor of my cabin is so hot that I can feel it through the soles of my boots.
7 p.m.—What awful heat! Again I have to keep the port closed, as the sea is splashing in.
One of the Borodino's engines is damaged. We stopped and waited for her. She is now steaming with one engine.
Storms are visible passing away from us in three places. The clouds are black and lightning flashes. It is close.