The Echunga Diaries London to New Zealand by sailing ship - 1862    The Echunga Diaries London to New Zealand by sailing ship - 1862 by James M. Groves "Auriga" Artist: John Groves www.johngroves.org In September, 1862, the barque Echunga, sailed from London for New Zealand crowded with British emigrants. Although she was only 172 feet long and 36 feet wide at her broadest, she carried 332 passengers and a crew of 38. This book tells the true story of the voyage through the diaries of two of the passengers - young Cornishmen who carefully kept daily accounts of their experiences. The diarists recount the horrors of sleeping berths below deck flooded in terrifying storms, attacks by rats and bedbugs, short rations of food and foul water. They endured all of these trials in appallingly crowded conditions with virtually no privacy. They also describe the more pleasant aspects of their journey, including warm tropical days, the excitement of celebrations to mark the crossing of the equator and the playful antics of the dolphins and whales which would occasionally accompany the ship. In the course of the three and a half months of the voyage, four passengers died, a crewman was washed overboard to his death and seven babies entered the world. In addition to telling the fascinating daily stories of the long sea voyage, this book contains biographical information about each passenger and crew member. "...The Echunga Diaries provide a fascinating snapshot of Canterbury's early pioneers, and one can only admire how tough they were." -The Timaru Herald "Groves presents a compelling story..." -The Press, Christchurch "The Echunga Diaries proved an enjoyable and enlightening read." -The New Zealand Genealogist "Highly recommended." -The Cornwall Family History Society Journal