Revised Jun 30 2021
H | K | F | Courses | Winds | Rems: Friday 12th. June 1789. Bountys Launch. Towards Timor | ||||||||||||||||||
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1 | 4 | " | W½S | SEBS | Fine Wr. but exceedingly hazy. | ||||||||||||||||||
2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | 4 | " | SE | ||||||||||||||||||||
4 | 4 | " | " | Gannets and many Tropic Gulls. Caught a Booby by hand which ordered to be kept for Dinner. | |||||||||||||||||||
5 | 4 | West | |||||||||||||||||||||
6 | 4 | " | " | Issued 1/24 lb Bread, and two Jills of water to each person. I hourly expect to fall in with Timor and have a most anxious look out | |||||||||||||||||||
7 | 4 | 4 | East | ||||||||||||||||||||
8 | 4 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
9 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
12 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | 4 | 6 | " | " | With an excess of Joy we discovered Timor bearing WNW to WBW Hauled the Wind. | ||||||||||||||||||
4 | 3 | NNE | |||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 3 | At Day light Timor from SWBS 2 leags. low land to NE½N 7 leags. interior part mountainous. | |||||||||||||||||||||
6 | 3 | SBE | EBS | ||||||||||||||||||||
7 | 3 | SBW | " | At 7 Coast opening to the Southd. with the low land at SW. Bore away | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | 3 | SSW | " | Very Hazy Wr. the extremes of Timor from SWBW 5 leags. to NEBN 6 leags. and the low land set at day light NBW 3 miles. | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | 3 | " | " | High head lands opend with the southt. as set at 8h SW½W. | |||||||||||||||||||
11 | 3 | SWBS | SE | ||||||||||||||||||||
12 | 3 | " | " | Fresh
Breezes and hazy. The low land seen at day light is now the East extreme
bearing NNE½E 4 leags.
The South extreme set at 8h NBE½E
3 miles and the southt. land in sight SW½W
5 leags. Land mountainous and woody. | |||||||||||||||||||
95 | Meridn. Altd. Center | 56°..50′ | |||||||||||||||||||||
3526 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
3621 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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All the afternoon we had several Gannets and many Birds about that indicated we were near to Land, and at Sun Down we had a very anxious look out. At 3 in the morning with an excess of Joy we discovered Timor bearing WSW to WNW and I hauled the Wind to the NNE untill day light when the land bore from SWBS about 2 leags. to NEBN 7 leagues.
At 7h I bore away along the south East side of the Island steering SSW and SWBS. At Noon the extremes of Timor from SW½W 5 leagues to NNE½E 4 leagues. Distant off shore 3 miles. The Sun being to the northward of me. I fear my Latitude may not be very exact being so near the Land.
It is not possible for me to describe the joy that the blessing of seeing the Land diffused among us. Indeed it is scarce within the scope of beleif that in 41 days I could be on the Coast of Timor in which time we have run by our Log 3623 miles which on a medium is 90 miles a Day.
I have already mentioned I knew not at what part of the Island the Dutch Settlement was and I was still at a loss, but I had a presentiment that it was at the SW part. I therefore steered to the Southward along the South shore of the Island with more satisfaction, for I could not go on the north without some loss of time.
The Day gave us an agreeable prospect of the Land, which was interspersed with woods and Lawns, the interior part mountainous, but the shore low. Towards Noon the Coast became higher, and we were highly delighted with the general look of the Country which exhibited cultivated spots and many beautifull: but we could only see a few Small Hutts, from whence I concluded no European resided at this part of the Island. Much Sea run on the Shore, so that the landing with a Boat was impracticable. I found I was on the SE side as the point of the Coast came in sight in the direction of SW.
In the Evening we Caught a Booby which I reserved for our Dinner, but I had some difficulty to stop the Masters muttering because I would not serve it for Breakfast, for this ignorant Man conceived he was instantly to be in the midst of plenty. The Allowance of Bread and water I Issued as before, & to the Surgeon and Lebogue I gave a little Wine.