H Fiennes Speed's 1883 log books from the 'Watersnake' and 'Water Rat' provide a fascinating insight into the early days of small boat sailing and canoeing in Victorian England. Originally published in "Cruises in Small Yachts and Big Canoes", this digital edition provides the first two of three logs from the original text, and covers the adventures of the plucky crews of these 16 to 18 foot sailing canoes as they travel from London to Rotterdam, up the Thames, and down the south coast of England. It is profusely illustrated with 46 woodcuts by the author and historial maps of the cruising area, which are new scans from a first edition print. This digital edition also contains an editor's foreword, modern maps, and a sailing glossary.