Sep 8, 1792 Home Flinders's Log Sep 10, 1792
Revised Sep 16 2021
At 11 Island H from the Mast head NE½N 8 Miles
Island N S60°E 2 Miles O S75°W 6 or 7 Miles P N85°W 7 Miles
M S67°E about 6 Miles
At 12·30 Saw a small Island S16°E about 6 Miles
1 pm: Strong Breezes and fair Weather
2 pm: The Master sent to Leeward with the Cutter and Whale boat to sound
4 pm: Employed in the Fore Hold getting Water to Hand – As the Boats returned several Natives followed them along the Beach – the 2nd and 3rd Lieutenants sent in the Boats to them and had a very amicable Intercourse Hoisted in the Boats Veered away the whole Cable Service
12 mid: Strong Breezes and squally Weather
4 am: Ditto and cloudy – Out Boats – At ½ past 8 Weighed and hauled round the Island – the Assistant and Boats leading Lead constantly going – Several Natives upon the Beach and a Canoe coming off – Under close reefed Topsails
9 am: Saw three other Islands from the Mast head call N, O and P
10 am: Saw another Island Q
12 noon: At Noon Fresh Breezes and fair Weather distant from N about 3 Miles
The Assistant and Boats ahead leading and sounding
Not seeing any Natives we attributed to some hostile Intention. their Hutts we saw distinctly under
the Trees like so many Cow sheds, but not a soul near them. however when the Boats were standing
along shore as they returned from Sounding, they came out, and ran along the Beach waving Branches of
Trees and clapping their Heads, endeavouring to persuade them to come on shore – this we saw
from the Ship and accordingly when the Boats returned on board they were sent to them, well armed and
provided with some Trifles for Trade – They found them very amicable the Indians running into
the Water to meet them and some of them getting into the Boat. they exchanged some ornamental Trifles
of small Shells as we had seen before and brought down some Dates or Plumbs, some thing like the Jambo
of the East Indies, which was the only eatable they saw. they very eagerly called out for tooree tooree
as those on board the Ship had done – One of the Indians had a moderate sized Dog with him of a
brown chesnut colour. it is most probable they have several of these and that they formed a part of
their Food – When the Boats came away the Indians followed them into the Water to detain them
endeavouring to get the Boats on shore but offered no Violence – This as well as several other
small Islands we have seen no more than a sandy Key covered with Wood, except upon A we saw no
Cocoa nutts upon any of them, the Soil may possibly be too dry. the wood that there are covered with
is tolerably large Trees, some of them bearing those Plumbs I spoke of.
Sep 8, 1792 Home Flinders's Log Sep 10, 1792