Feb 8, 1792 Home Providence Log Feb 10-11, 1792
Revised Aug 26 2021
1 pm: Light Airs and fine Weather with Calm intervals. Sounded 72 fathoms reddish speckled Sand, the Mewstone S84°W, South Cape N12°E 2 Leagues, and Swilly S48°E.—
4 pm: Moderate and Cloudy. Could not get any observations Mewstone N88°W Swilly S19°E Coxcomb Land shut on with a high peaked Mountain at N19°W, Swilly and South Cape in a line S32°E & N32°W —
6 pm: Tasmans Head N18E 2 Leagues.—
8 pm: Cloudy & unsteady Winds. The Fryers off Tasmans head WbN & The land near Fluted Cape N5°W, distant from the Fryers 2 or 3 Miles –
12 mid: Very variable Winds & Weather. Cape Frederick Henry NNW—
4 am: Sounded 34 Fathoms. —
5 am: Got the Boats a head to tow. Sounded 31 fathoms. Cape Frederick Henry N¾E – Ditto NbE¼E Sounded 29 fathoms. Ditto NbE¾E, Pengwin Island SSE 1½ Mile. Sounded 23 fathoms. Cape Frederick Henry NNE 20 fathoms 1½ Mile from Pengwin Island. Ditto NNE¼E & Pengwin Island ESE 1¼ Mile.—
8 am: Sounded 19 Fathoms.— Gave Hot Breakfast as usual
9 am: At ½ past 7 Came to in Adventure Bay in 9 fathoms with the Small
Bower Moored Ship Best Bower in 10 fathoms. Pengwin Island N64°E. Cape Frederick Henry N25°E,
West end of the Beach West ¾ Mile.—
Hoisted the Boats – Served Sweet Wort —
12 noon: Light Variable Winds, Calms and very Cloudy Weather.—
Assistant in Company.— Hauled the Seine and caught only One hundred Weight of poor Fish.—
Bream – Elephant Fish small Flat Fish, and other small Fry —
Here Log Account End & Civil Account begins–
The very Variable and bafling Winds with a strong outset prevented my getting into the Bay untill day break. As soon as we anchored I went on Shore to determine wherre we should Water at, and fix our Wooding Party, at the same time sent the Cutter with the Seine.
I found the place near the West End of the Beach where I Wooded at in 1788 the most convenient, as being nearest the Ship, but in other respects all parts of the Beach alike, and the best Water I found at the Watering place of the Resolution, about a half Mile without the West End of the Beach. It is a fine plentifull Stream, and the best Water in this place if not as good as any whatever. At this place we saw a Wigwam and some recent marks of the Natives having been lately at it. Many mussel Shells and some Craw Fish were heaped up as if they had fed there for a considerable time. We picked up some handfulls of fine Shavings of Wood, which I believe they prepare to light their Fires with, & a bundle of dried inside Bark tied up two feet long, intended for a blambeau. The Wigwam would cover about Six People, its form is a perfect Section of a Bee Hive, the open part being to the NE. The covering was large peices of Bark, but was neither Wind or Water tight.
A saw Pit I made in my last Voyage, I found partly filled up; but the Cross Logs remaioned the same, and likewise a post I had stuck in the Ground and made a Stand of was in the same possition. I saw no signs of any Ships having been here, and the Trees I had marked remained the same as I left them in 1788. A strip of Red Baise [baize] I found on the Ground was perfectly fresh in its colour, & not the least decayed.
The Fish we caught with the Seine was barely worth the trouble of hauling it, with Hooks and Lines, some very good Red Cod were caught, and the afternoon I gave to the People by way of rest. The different Parties were fixed for the Morrow, and I directed every one to Breakfast at 7 o'Clock before they went on Shore. Weather thick and Rainy.
I saw many Wild Ducks in the Lake – some black Swans their Wings tiped White, and a few Pelicans or Birds of that Size.
I have brought this account up to midnight, and the following is by Civil Account and not Log.
Feb 8, 1792 Home Providence Log Feb 10-11, 1792