May 31, 1789 Home Logbook Jun 2, 1789
Revised Jun 30 2021
| H | K | F | Courses | Winds | Rems: Monday 1st. June 1789. In the Bountys Launch: New Holland. | |||||||||||||||||||
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| 1 | SEBS | Very fine Wr. and Smooth water. Dined on a plentifull meal of Stewed Oysters, and clams, and Sailed at 3 o'Clock. called this Island Sunday after the name of the day. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4 | 4 | 6 | NWBN | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 4 | 6 | " | " | A high peaked mountain opened with the south part of the main at WBW¼S and could see the coast as far as WNW. Milk white Sand Hills very conspicuous. | |||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 4 | 6 | At 6 o'Clock I arrived at the Key I intended to spend the night at but the tide being low and a very rocky shore, I could not land without risk of getting some of the Rocks through the Boats bottom I therefore brought to a Grapnel for the night. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 6 | " | " | " | " | At day light got the Boat in upon the Beach. Saw a Turtle Track. Sent parties off to see what they could pick up. | |||||||||||||||||||
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| 9 | People complaining of sickness at the stomach and dreadfull Tenesmus. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12 | " | " | " | SE | A very fresh Gale and Fair Wr. Parties returned with some Clams. Mr Nelson Ill. | |||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Meridn. Altd. Center | 56°..09′ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2536 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2550 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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At 2 o'Clock this afternoon I issued to every one a full pint and a half of Stewed Oysters and Clams which I had thickened with a small Bean which Mr. Nelson informed me was species of Dollichus, and have dined heartily and taken what water we were in want of, I only waited to determine high water which I found to be at 3 o'Clock and the rise of the Tide about 5 feet. According to this it is high water at full and change at 19 mins past 9 in the morning, but here I observed the Flood to come from the southward altho at Restoration Island I thought it came from the northward, so that there appears an error in the latter if we take the Tide flowing later here as a criterion to judge from, but I think Captn. Cook speaks of great irregularity with respect to the set of the Flood, as he found it on this Coast.
I now Sailed for the Key I had seen in the NWBN, giving the name of Sunday Island to the Place I had left. I got to it just at dark, but found it so surrounded by a Reef of Rocks that I could not land without a risk of Staving the Boat, and therefore I came to a Grapnel for the night.
At Dawn of Day we got on shore and tracked the Boat into shelter, for the Wind blowing fresh without and the Ground rocky, I was affraid to trust her at a Grapnel lest she might be blown to Sea. I was on this account reduced to the necessity to let her ground in the course of the Ebb. From appearances I expected in the Course of the following night to meet with Turtle as we had already discovered recent tracks of them. Innumerable Birds of the noddy kind made it likewise their resting place; so that upon the whole I flattered myself of getting supplies in greater abundance than it had hitherto been in my power. The Situation was 4 leagues from the main, and we were on the Westermost of four small Keys which surrounded by a Reef of Rocks connected by sand Banks, except between the two northermost where it was only passable at low water over Rocks formed a Lagoon Island into which the Tide flowed, and where at the entrance I kept the Boat.
As usual I sent Parties away in search of supplies, but to my astonishment we could only get a few clams and some Dolichus with these and the Oysters we had brought from Sunday Island I made up a mess for Diner with and addition of a small quantity of Bread.
Towards Noon Mr Nelson and his party who had been to the Eastermt Key returned but himself in such a weak condition that he was obliged to be supported by two men. His complaint was a burning in his Bowels a loss of sight, much drought and an incapacity to walk. This I found was owing to his not being able to support the heat of the sun, and that being fatigued and faint instead of getting into the shade, he had continued to do more than he was able. It was a great happiness to me to see on their calling me in that he had no Fever, and it was now my medicine the little wine that I had carefully saved became of real use. I gave it him in very small quantities with some small peices of Bread soaked in it, and having pulled of[f] his cloaths and laid him under some Shady Bushes he began to get better. The Boatswain and Carpenter also became ill and complained of Headach and Sickness of the stomach. Others who had not had any evacuation by the Stool became shockingly distressed with the Tenesmus, so that I had but few who were not complaining.
Some one now mentioned that he thought their illness was occasioned by eating the Dollicus, when it spread like wild fire, and those who were complaining thought themselves poisoned. Myself however and some others who had eat of them were yet very well, but the truth was, all those except Mr. Nelson who were complaining had gorged themselves with a large quantity of undressed Beans, and Mr Nelson informed me that they were constantly teazing him whenever a Berry was found if it was good to eat, so that it would not surprize him if many of them were realy poisoned.
Our Dinner was not so well relished as at Sunday Island because we had mixed the Dollichus with the Stew. Oyster and Soup however was eat by every one except Mr Nelson, who eat only a few small peices of Bread soaked in a small Glass of wine and began to recover.
In my walk round the Island I found several Cocoa nutt shells. The remains of an old wigwam and two backs of Turtle, but no sign of any Quadruped. One of my People found three Fowls Eggs.
As is common on such spots the soil is little other than Sand, yet it produced small Toa Trees and several other we were not acquainted with. There were Fish in the Lagoon, but we could not catch any, as our wants therefore were not likely to be supplied, not even water for our daily expence, I told every one I would Sail in the morning after trying our success in the night for Turtle and Birds. A quiet nights rest I also conceived would be of essential service to those who were unwell.
From the wigwam and Turtle shell being found it is certain that the natives resort to this place at certain times of the year, and it likewise proves beyond a doubt of their having Cannoes. It did not appear to me I was running any risk by remaining here, and I directed our Fire to be made among the thicket that we might not be discovered in the night.
The Main extended as far as NW full of white sand Hills and a small Island lay WBN¼N 3 leagues from us. My situation being very low I could see nothing of the Reef towards the Sea.
May 31, 1789 Home Logbook Jun 2, 1789