Nov 29, 1788 Home Logbook Dec 1, 1788
Revised Jun 29 2021
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Strong Breezes and Cloudy Wr. with some showers of Rain. Wind at ESE and the Thermr. from 78° to 81°. PM Received on board a Launch load of wood. In the morning after cleaning ship, as many as could be spared, I gave leave for to go on shore. Received supplies as usual. Sick list as yesterday.
Tynah has been solliciting me for some time to make him a large chest to keep his things in but untill to day I have thought it best to keep that favor in reserve, my compliance therefore, and giving directions that it should be done gave him great pleasure. The dimensions are such as will admitt him and his wife to sleep on it and he is preparing materials for a large House to keep it in. Not one of these large dwellings which were here in Captn. Cooks time are now to be seen or can I find one of their famous large Cannoes all of which have been destroyed in the course of the wars they have had. I made my usual present to day to Tynah by filling his box with Toeys &ca. as I have always done when it was empty, but his modesty and consciousness that I had given him a great deal almost led him to prevent me from doing it. I must also say this in his favor, that as he has received so much from me great part of which has been distributed to those he liked from choice and esteem, and to others he paid attention to through political necessity. Some part of this has been done through my hands under his diretion, from an apparent desire that I should ingratiate myself with particular people who otherwise I might have overlooked in some degree from not knowing their real consequence.
I sent a man on shore to day to shear the Ewe I have at Poeeno's House as by that means I could more effectually apply a cure to the Mange which it is infected with. This sheep has been eleven years in this country & its wool is just as fine and thick as it would have been in England. It therefore determines a matter to a certainty that in this instance the Tropical heat has no effect like changing wool into hair as it is currently reported in Jamaica, where I have heard it said an English sheep will loose
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all the Wool it has after a few years.
The Garden I made near the Tents has not turned out well. The melons and Cucumbers have most of them been destroyed by insects and the soil being very sandy none of the other seeds thrive. I have therefore ocupyed a spot of ground farther from the Sea and sown an assortment of seeds which I expect will thrive, particularly the Red Calliloo & Ochra of Jamaica.
Nov 29, 1788 Home Logbook Dec 1, 1788