Feb 17, 1789 Home Logbook Feb 19, 1789
Revised Jun 29 2021
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Very Variable Wr. Rain Thunder and Lightning sometimes, strong gales at others Calms and Light Winds. Wind NE WSW ESE NEBE Thermr. 80 and 82½.
Armourer at the Forge. Cooper repairing Casks. Some hands cutting Wood and Sawing Plank. Began to fit the Mizen Rigging. Sick List four Venereals and one man ill with a Cold.
Supplies and natives about us as usual. This afternoon I took a walk with Tynah to the Hills where his Country residence is to sow Indian Corn. It may very properly be called his Seat, for he has a neat House and a Plantation of all the produce of the Country. Ground provisions such as Yams and sweet Potatoes were in great abundance, but they have not yet begun to flower, and of course not in season, however he directed a few Potatoes to be dug for me. A great many cocoa nutt Trees which he has planted within these five years from the Nutt in Rows, are in great perfection, and he has very fine clusters of Breadfruit Trees also of his own planting. The situation is delightfull with a fine View of Oparre and Matavai. Tetturoah can also be seen. The soil is exceedingly rich and good so that every thing grows luxuriantly.
Some Men always reside here to look after the property, and it was a peculiar pleasure to me to see, that Tynah looked around it with vast delight and satisfaction. His House is so situatred that he has only three Peeps at the Sea through the Trees, but he has an extensive view by walking 50 yards.
Sugar Cane grows here very luxuriantly and here is also a kind of Ocra, but it is not so fine as that in the West Indies, Plants of which from the seed I have sown at Matavai and Oparre, are now come finely forward.
The Land forms every where in Hills and Dales. In the Bottoms they have gardens for the cloth Plant and the Ava
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which are kept in great order, with deep Trenches to carry of[f] heavy Rain. The sides and Tops of the Hills are planted with ground provisions, but the former and the Plains are the situations prefered for the Breadfruit. The other fruit Trees of the Island are planted in any situation. There is however such a pleasing irregularity about the whole, that I doubt but any European Art would rob it of many beauties. This situation is an half hours walk from the water side. It is some parts steep but in general very good walking. The interior Hills and Mountains are covered with wood, and they have path ways all through the Country.
I sowed ten fine Ears of Indian Corn. Much more I put into the ground a short time after I arrived at Matavai and it bore luxuriantly and in three months it was fit for gathering. I however did not go up in time to save it, for the natives seeing it ripe, they took away all the Ears which were upwards of a thousand: I trust nevertheless that they are not lost, but that they will be sown, if it was from no other part of my representation than that they would receive great payment for any that they would hereafter produce to any European ship. That it will make their Fowls fat, and fine eating is another weighty consideration with them. Upon the whole I look upon Indian Corn now to be established in Otaheite.
Had I planted all my melons, Cucumbers and other things such as sallad &ca &ca at such a place as this they would have learned to a like account, but I had no Idea of it. In the low grounds the Hogs destroy every thing. This may serve as a lesson to any who may come after me.
Feb 17, 1789 Home Logbook Feb 19, 1789