Aug 30, 1792 Home Providence Log Sep 1, 1792
Revised Aug 27 2021
1 pm: Very fine Weather with light Winds & a little Hazy until Sun set
3 pm: Saw some Boobys and Tropic Birds on the Water. The Tropic Birds have red Beeks and the two long feathers of the Tail in the same colour. Noddies Flying Fish & some patches of Weed. The Officers of the Assistant saw a Turtle.
7 pm: At dusk shorned Sail, & Double Reefed the Top Sails.
10 pm: Caught two Noddies
2 am: Some Porpoises about the Ship, Caught a Noddy.
4 am: Fine Weather but the Sun brought with it a prodigious Haze. Made all possible Sail.
6 am: Saw Tropic Birds sitting on the Water, Flocks of the black backed Gull, some Noddies and Boobies and Man of War Birds, Some patches of Weed like the Gulph Weed. Many Skipjacks & Bonetos & Flying Fish.
9 am: Extra allowance for Breakfast and Dinner as usual on this day.
12 noon: Fine Weather but extremely hazy so that 5 or 6 Leagues is the utmost we can see
and land.
The Assistant in Company and a head on the look out.
My being so late in the Season, and a great probability of my meeting with delays in passing through between New Holland and New Guinea, is the cause of my running on in the Night. Since the 23rd the Boobies and Noddies that we have seen daily are indubitable proofs of our passing dangers. This is a track that should be taken with great caution, and I recommend it to whoever many follow me, not to run in the Night; but to keep the Ship on a Wind under such Sail as will render her manageable.
I am in good time to save the Monsoon to Timor provided my route was clear, for I count upon the Easterly Trade blowing untill the middle of October.
At present the Weather is so fine, and the Sea so smooth, I depend on clearing any danger reasonably to be expected, and Lieut. Portlock has likewise his orders to keep a head, which is a double security, for the little Vessel is as manageable as a Boat.
Aug 30, 1792 Home Providence Log Sep 1, 1792