Jul 10-13, 1792 Home Flinders's Log Jul 17-18, 1792
Revised Sep 16 2021
Saturday July 14th Variable Weather with Rain at Times Scraping and greasing down the topmasts Washed between Decks and in the Officers Cabbins with boiling Water which destroyed a great Quantity of Cock roaches Launch compleated watering the Ship – AM. The Assistants and our own Launch employed getting off the Plants towed by the Cutters, but desisted after having brought a Load each on account of the Heat of the Sun – People on board variously employed – Fresh Provisions served and a plentiful Supply received particularly green Plantains
Sunday 15th Rainy at Times the whole 24 Hours – with frequent Lightning – A heavy surf upon the Beach occasioned by the Westerly Breeze – Two Loads of Plants received in the Evening by the Launches – AM Launches on shore at Day break for Plants but broke of[f] by the heavy rain – Loosed Sails to dry when it cleared up – People preparing the Ship for Sea – A plentiful Supply of Fruit received
Monday 16th Moderate Breezes and Cloudy Weather with frequent Showers of rain – Received our
Launch loaded with Plants – Handed Sails – Received the Astronomical Quadrant from the Observatory
– AM. The Launches vigorously employed bringing on board the Plants which was compleated this Morning*
afterwards we received by our Launch the Observatory Hen coops and several other things from the Tent –
People employed preparing the Ship for Sea and occasional Duty – Fresh Provisions as before
(* See the Account of all the Plants received in the next Page [below])
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seeds do not come to Perfection, the Core that contains them is in the Heart of the Fruit – The roots of the Bread fruit like the Tree are full of a white milky Juice, and have many tuberous ulcers upon them, from these the succors are produced, and on the sides of a Ditch or where the Earth was divided they throw out in great Abundance but these are not the best for transplanting – in the Cloth Gardens the Natives cultivate the Breadfruit. in them also are many wild ones with excellent roots, occasioned by the Earth being kept loose about them and free from Weeds – The Natives enumerate more than 20 Varieties of this Tree differing in the Time of bringing their Fruit to perfection, which also differs considerably in each – the Sort called Pooeroo growing principally at Tiarraboo is much superior to the others – a great Number of this Sort were procured and many of them are growing very well –
The Tree when in perfection is the size of a midling Oak affording a beautifull, extensive and almost impenetrable
Shade – the leaves are cut into Segments, are of a fine green and some of them two feet long –
Besides the Bread fruit amounting to 1156 Vessels, they collected a number of the Fruits of this Island, and some
Curiosity Plants amounting on the whole to about 2000 Plants in 1286 Pots, Tubs, Boxes &c which with 4 Pots
of Van Diemans Plants, make the whole Number we leave Oteheite with – One of the Men who used to attend
the Botanists in their Excursions, and whom they named Jacketts is to go with us, and a Towtow of Adea's called
Midedde the Captain intends taking to England and make him learn some Handicraft that when he returns he may be
of some Service to his Country – Jacketts or Pappo as his Oteheitean Name is, will most probably be left
at Jamaica with the Plants, with whichever of the Botanists stay, and it is intended that one of them should
Jul 10-13, 1792 Home Flinders's Log Jul 17-18, 1792