Nov 11, 1792 Home Flinders's Log Nov 13, 1792

Flinders's Providence Logbook Nov 12, 1792

Remarks Monday 12th In the Indian Ocean Homewards

Remarks

The last 16 or 20 Days the Plants have been recovering themselves very fast, which is undoubtedly owing to the change of Climate, for as we have advanced to the Southward, the Plants have assumed a more healthy green Colour. The Buds of great Numbers of them begtan to swell and the Appearance of the whole Collection since they came on board the Ship has never been so promising as at present – While we lay at Timor and three Weeks after leaving it, the Weather was hot, the Thermometer being seldom or never less than 80°. during this Time the Awnings were obliged to be spread greatest Part of the Day to defend the Plants from the scorching Sun. This makes the Green house below dark and in some Measure obstructs the free Circulation of Air. at Night, Caution makes it absolutely necessary to have the Ports barred in and the Stern lights down, the Air thus confined becomes foul, and unwholesome to vegetable Bodies, much more so, no Doubt than in a more temperate Climate. to this must be attributed the Loss of many Plants that died in that Period and even at present some few of them keep going off in the Greenhouse below, for while they are confined on board a Ship with nothing but Salt Air to imbibe, we may reasonably expect it will be so, but as almost all the Plants below are in good Situations where they receive a tolerable Portion of Light and Air, it is to be hoped our future Loss amongst them will be inconsiderable and those on Deck have ever been in a very flouishing State – the seedling Plants procured at Timor are in fine Order. their Leaves are cut into Segments exactly like the steril Varieties and at present there is not the least Difference between them. the other Timor Breadfruit are likewise growing luxuriantly, tho they were very small when

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they came on board – When we crossed the Tropic there were on Deck 423 Plants in 284 Vessels and below 513 in 441 Vessels by which it appears we have lost 431 Vessels and 750 Plants. the other Otaheitean Plants have suffered a much mor inconsiderable Diminution. before this Time they were always watered in the cool of the Evening, and their Tops well washed twice a Week or oftener if necessary, which kept them clean and free from any Salt particles they might otherwise have contracted it also kept them moist like a Dew the whole Night. but since that Time the Evenings being much cooler, the Botanists thought it better calculated for their Welfare to water them early in the Morning

Captain Bligh had some Intention of going into Madagascar but on consulting with the Botanists it was dropped, for say they, in a Letter to the Captain on the Subject. "as the Success of the Voyage principally depends upon the Despatch used in getting the Plants ashore, nothing but an absolute Want of Water could countenance the stopping there and which is happily by no Means the Case – it is impossible to procure better Water at Madagascar or any where else than that we have on board for when it had been six Days in Casks, it would in Point of fastness be by no Means superior to that of Timor. The Plants by proceeding so gradually to the Southward are much hardened and we hope will suffer little from the Climate of the Cape whereas were we to go into Madagascar the Weather would probably be much warmer, perhaps 10°, this would make the Plants tender and cause them to make long weak Shoots. in this State they would be very unfit to proceed immediately into a cold Climate, which we should be obliged to do, it would undoubtedly kill a great Number and materially infure the whole, but allowing that in some Measure they would be invigorated by the use of fresh Water and would suffer Nothing by being transported from a Cold to a Hot and again from a hot to a Cold Climate, yet the Injury they would sustain by the Delay of Time only, is certainly a sufficient Inducement to proceed with all possible Expedition.

Nov 11, 1792 Home Flinders's Log Nov 13, 1792