Apr 13, 1792 Home Providence Log Apr 15, 1792
Revised Aug 26 2021
Moderate Breezes and fine Weather Wind at NEbE Thermometer 83 to 85 Degrees Carpenters Employed Caulking the larboard side. Washed & Cleaned Ship below.
We have plentifull supplies of Hogs and fruit, and every Man has more than he can consume.
At day dawn I sent away Mr. Norris Surgeon of the Matilda with a Message from me to Poeeno & Tabyroo for Mr. Weatherheads Money, & some other Articles that were in their possession, particularly the Musquets. After a troublesome Walk of Six Miles he found Poeeno & Tabyroo at Wapyhanoo (a). They received him in a very friendly manner and promised that the Money should be returned as soon as it could be got from Teturoah (b) where they had sent it for security. They refused to give up the Musquets, unless by mutual consent all those that were on the Island were to be given to me; in that case they had no objection to comply; but in their present situation they could not think of it, as it was necessary for them to preserve some Means to regain their property, or to establish themselves in another situation. They would do any thing to serve me, and hoped I would not be angry with them. It was the Mob, they said, had taken away the peoples Cloaths, and hauled the Boats on Shore, they endeavoured to restrain them, but could not. If I came after them, they said, all that could be done, was for them to fly farther. They called Matavai my Country, and described that the People of Oparre had destroyed all their Houses, Barked their Trees, destroyed what I had left among them, and done the Country irreparable injury. I am sorry to say I found it too much the Case, it will not however affect my plan, as the Plants are numerous.
(a) A district next to Matavai
(b) A small Island north of Point Venus.
According to my promise I landed with Oreepyah & Toota,ah and fixed on a rising ground for my Post, about a ¼ of a Mile from Point Venus along the Beach. Matavai River runs close to the back of it, which makes the Situation vastly desireable and advantageous for the Plants. by Oreepyah's assistance I got the lines marked out, and by Night I got a fence and Shade two thirds completed, (about 30 Yards long and 6 Wide,) to receive my Plants. I also got necessary posts for Houses, & every thing ready for errecting them on to morrow, which is vastly preferable to errecting my own Tents.
Thus happily we were going on well, and I got ready a Party of 27 Men & Officers under the command of Lieut. Guthrie & Lieut. Pearce, all capable of bearing Arms, twenty of them being Marines.
Apr 13, 1792 Home Providence Log Apr 15, 1792