Aug 31, 1792 Home Providence Log Sep 2, 1792
Revised Aug 27 2021
1 pm: Fine Weather but very hazy. Boobies, Noddies Species of Gull and Flying Fish
6 pm: At ½ 6 The Assistant made the Signal for seeing Breakers Saw the Shoal from SWbW to WSW 2 or 3 Miles. Hauled the Wind on the Starboard Tack. Sounded 94 fathoms of Line but no bottom. Spoke the Assistant to keep on a Wind for the Night and took a Reef in the Top Sails.
9 pm: Boobies and Noddies. Caught several Noddies
12 mid: Tacked Ship
2 am: Tacked
4 am: Tacked
5 am: At Sun rise bore away. At 8 The Shoal could be seen a few Rattlings up bearing
WNW 2 or 3 Leagues.
Untill we tacked we continued to see more of the Shoal extending to the Southward, and as far as the Eye
could trace to the Westward. No land to be seen. A kind of Race was near us when we Tacked and the South
part of the Shoal in sight bore SbW 3 or 4 Miles
10 am: Birds as before and Porpoises.
12 noon: Fresh Breezes and fine Weather but hazy. Could only see the Shole from the Mast head
bearing NNW about 2 or 3 leagues distant.
Assistant in Company.
The Assistant being on the look out made the Signal for Danger and tacked towards us. We found it to be a very dangerous Shoal about 3 Miles from us. Happily we saw it before Night. No land could be seen near these dreadfull Breakers, but Boobies and Noddies in abundance. I hailed Lieut. Portlock to keep the Wind for the Night, which we passed without any trouble altho with some concern.
At Sun rise (for untill then we could not distinguish the colour of the Water) we bore away, and I ordered the Assistant to lead. At 7 O'Clock we saw the Shoal bearing West & WNW, and supposing it to be a small spot we steered to go round to the Southward of it, but to my surprise as we advanced, found the Breakers incline more and more to the South and were obliged to keep our Wind.
At ¼ past 10 we tacked Ship, as a stream set us fast towards the Breakers and there was no possibility to Weather them provided the end terminated where we saw it. This however I do not believe to be the case.
What I shall prove this Shoal to be, I hope will soon be determined, it gives a horrible Picture of the Navigation of this unknown Streight.
Aug 31, 1792 Home Providence Log Sep 2, 1792