Sunday June 12th 1898 HMS Mohawk Guadalcanal prepare ship for coaling

Usual Sunday routine sighted Guadalcanal
Island shortly after noon, we proceeded into Moran Sound anchor-
ing at 6 pm, two boats went away to fetch trader who came on board
found out that he had 50 ton of coal to sell so our Captain
resolved to buy it as we was getting short, prepared
ship for coaling.

Sunday May 15th 1898 HMS Mohawk

At 6am we got up anchor and left in a South East-
erly direction passing Guadalcanar Malita &
Hura Islands in the later part of the afternoon
we entered a beautiful group of Islands called Ma-
lapa our purpose for coming here was to see the
English trader and find out from him whether
everything was Quiet and satisfactory as regards the
natives, we cruised in & out of the islands
sounding our syren which very much frightened
the natives (our syren being a exceptional strong
one a regular buzzer) but after a time we man-
aged to entice one of the natives alongside, we
then found out that the trader had gone away
trading in his schooner, and he did not know
when he would return, so our Captain left
a letter behind for him, and it getting dusk we made
our way out to the open sea.