Reference
X928/1/7/4
Title
George Sechiari's World Tour diary
Date free text
December 11th 1882 - August 3rd 1883
Production date
From: 1882 To: 1883
Scope and Content
George Sechiari's World Tour diary. A black covered book in which George Sechiari writes details of his journey. Quite detailed at first but gradually tailing off to one line per day, then no notes at all towards the end of the trip. Andre Argenti is occasionally mentioned
The title page records 'Diary of Voyage Round the World From London Dec 11th /82. Arrived (no date of arrival recorded. Also in the corners of the page 'Europe: London Marseilles, Bologna, Genova. Africa: Alexandria, Cairo, Sagghara. Asia: Aden, Bombay, Khandalla.
Dec 19th George writes 'About 9.00pm the Revoir Stakes were run for the benefit of the fish. This seems to be a humerous game of sweepstake and lists the order of running as:
1. Heresago owner G Sechiari
2. Jerry owner A Argenti
3. Mothergodown owner G Sechiari
4. Cantwaitforlong owner G. McDonald
Underneath is written 'A tablecloth could cover them, stakes given to the stewards and then to the fish.'
During the first few days George mentions meeting other passengers and that 'Sir E Wood and staff onboard'
Dec 25th George visited the pyramids where he hoped to see the sunrise from the top, but it rained. He comments 'After stopping a little at the top talking to the Bedouins who are very intelligent and who speak English fairly well we descended and grovelled inside'.
Jan 4th Visited Aden 'Looks like a piece of very burnt toast not a bit of vegitation except one tree in the European churchyard'
Jan 17th Bombay 'Visited the Hindu Humain Society's hospital for animals was delighted with the cheerful aspects of the inmates specially the broken legged cows. The mangy dogs actually tried to grin when they saw us. Very cheerful. If I had no relations or freinds I'd go there myself.'
Jan 24th Jeypore. Detailed description of arrival and visit to Maharaja's gardens, featuring a number of wild animals and the stables housing 300 horses.
Jan 25th Visited Amber and gives detailed description of an elephant ride, the Jamondi Palace, the Exhibition and the Jail
Jan 26th - 30th Delhi. Detailed description of a 'swell barouch' also the places visited. George describes what materials are used in the buildings and some of their history. He went to see a 'native wedding. The bride was 7 or 8 years old and the bridegroom 10.' He also gives a very detailed description of the costume and jewelry of a dancing girl at the wedding.
Jan 31st He visited the Golden Mosque at Amritsar on the way to Lahore
Jan 31st - Feb 2nd Lahore. Short descriptions of the menagerie, the museum and the horse and dog show.
Feb 3rd - 8th Mar visits Agra, Sekanda, Cawnpore, Lucknow, Allahbad, Jubulpore,Benares, Calcutta, Darjeling, Madras, Trichinopoli, Tanjore and Madura, giving short descriptions of visits to sites of interest.
March 9th - 17th arrives in Ceylon and visits Colombo but gives very short notes only. on 17th sets sail for China on S.S. Deecan (P&O).
March 22nd arrives in Penang and immediately leaves for Singapore, very short notes.
March24th leaves for China
March 30th - 5th April Arrives Hong Kong 'amid a salute of guns from everywhere' Lists places visited without giving descriptions. On the facing page he lists a menu which includes birdsnest soup, frogs, sharks fins and seagulls eggs.
April 5th - 6th arrives Macao and leaves for Hong Kong
April 10th Leaves Hong Kong for Shanghai on the S.S. Ava
April 13th Arrives Shanghai
April 18th Leaves Shanghai for Japan, arriving in Nagasaki on 20th April. On 23rd he visited the waterfalls at Kobe and the Moon Temple. very brief description
April 24th Arrived in Kioto giving short descriptions of shooting the rapids, Japanese dance, china factory, temples and an exhibition.
April 27th 'Procured guide, provisions and cross country passports. Left for Osaka at 12 noon.' Short entry for Osaka, visited 300 year old castle stc.
April 28th - May 29th arrived in Kioto and then gives short daily descriptions of journey by the Nagasecido Road
May 31st Embarks on the 'Arabic' for America. Gives no details of the voyage
June 17th Arrives in 'Frisco' little detail given
June 20th 'Started for Yosemite, giving the names of some fellow travellers. Brief description of journey and of Yosemite valley.
June 25th Left the Valley for Glazier point, then to Madera, then to Sacramento.
June 28 took train to Salt Lake City (bathed in Salt Lake). Left for Ogden, Took train to Denver, then Chicago.
July 7th Arrived Oil City. Left for Buffalow, visited Niagra, saw falls. Buggied to Burning Spring.
July 11th - 15th Left for Toronto, then Montreal. Left for Quebec. Notes that 'Canadian girls very pretty'. Visited Montmorency Falls
July 17th Steamed down Hudson to New York, Madison Square, buggied in Central Park
No more written entries.
Lists:
44 Hotels, Oak Bungalows, 12 Teahouses.
At the back of the book a list of place names; distances (not clear if this is from place to place or from London to place); Time taken; and How (i.e. means of travel)
Sketches
Opposite 25th Jan entry is an ink sketch of a horse and carriage and another of a woman
Opposite Jan 26th entry an ink sketch (unidentifiable)
On a page near the back is an ink drawing of Japanese people pulling rickshaws. Three further pages show ink drawings of a person on a horse, a face, a chicken and other unidentifiable sketchings
Level of description
item