Mauritius,
Feb 2nd 1862
My dear Mother,

I did not expect to be writing to you again till I got to England, but it has been ordered otherwise. We experienced very severe weather since we left Akyab and on the 7th of last month about mid-day the gale increased to a hurricane. The ship at that time being "hove to" on the starboard tack. To ease her we hauled up the weather clew of the close reft? Main topsail but were unable to furl it. The wind increased so much that the ship lay down until her yard arms were in the water. All the lea bulwarks were washed out and all the chests and bunks out of the P’t side of the foreastle except mine and one other, but I lost a good deal. That side of the cabin was also full of water. We tried to wear her, set the jib a new one blew to pieces and losed the foretopsail but she would not go off so we had to cast away the mizen mast when she immediately righted and we got her round on the other tack. She made better weather of it, then shifted cargo list to port but as she lay in the trough of the sea from the loss of the mizen mast we were awash fore and aft. We lost our long boat and spars live stock part of the galley and had to live in the cabin for some time and cook on the poop but thank God we were all saved which was more than some of us expected. We were 14 days getting here from the time we were dismasted and are now refitting and expect to sail again in a fortnight. I hope I feel grateful to God for preserving me. One ship the "Lady Flora Hastings" of L.pool went down in the gale but her crew were picked up by a French vessel .. seven are in here repairing. I wish very much I could get to New Zealand now as there is plenty of gold there, but I will soon get out there if I was once home, for the diggings are a great deal better than this kind of life but I would like to see you all before I go. Give my love to Sisters and Brothers, Miss Lascelles and believe me yours affect,

J.C. Parkinson

I have got a … for someone if they are good and some other nice things.