Left Arrow
Right Arrow
Fateful Voyage

PreviousIntroductionHomeVlydtNov 2-20, 1789Next

Revised Jun 5 2021

Bligh's Vlydt Journal Oct 17-Nov 1, 1789

Week
Day
Mo.
Day
Winds Courses Dist.
in
Miles
Latitude Longd. D.R. Longd. Obsn. Remarks Remarks on board the Fly Packet from Batavia to Cape of Good Hope.
Oct'r. 1789
Saturd'y
17 Et.
N
SW
W.&Calm
Pasing the Shore
of Bantam
Moderate Breezes and Cloudy Wr with Thunder or Lightning and Rain. At 5 PM anchored to the Southward of Pulo Baby in 13 fms. Water, black sand (no bearings set) At day break Weighed & Sailed. Steering along shore with Variable Winds and Calms. Fever on me to Day.
Sund'y 18 Do. Passing the Coast
near Anger Point
Light Varia'l Winds & Calm. At 5 PM came to an Anchor in 15 fms. under Pulo Pisang. Pulo Toppersute WbN. Spoke an American Brig the Rambler. Sailed from Boston in Jan'y last. Eight weeks from Isle de France, bound to Batavia. AM weighed & Sailed. At Noon between Brabands hoedge and Isl'd Dwars in de Weg. Fever as Yesterday.
Mond'y 19 SE
So.
SEbS
SSE
WSW 46 6..40S 102°..47′E No Obsn. of Latitude Thunder Light'g. & Rain. At Midnight Princes's Island So. Dist. 6 Miles. At Noon the Weather appeared very unsettled. I take my departure from Princes Island allowing it in 6..30 So. 103°..30′ Et.
Tuesd'y20Round
the
Compass
WbS¾S887..10S101°..24′Et Heavy Rains with Calms. Sea from the Southward. The Vessel struck very heavy in the abaft, which obliged us to put in the Dead Lights. I Found no Fever to day.
Wednes'dy21SSE
SE
SWbW1048..9S99..57EMerid Alt'd
Odot Center 87°..18′
Fresh Breezes and Cloudy. In working the latitude to Day the officers made no allowance for the Vari'n of Declin'n in this instance it was 6 Miles. A little Head Ach but no Fever.
Thursd'y22ndSEW19°S1428..55S97..45 Merid. Alt'd
Odot Center 87°..43′
Fresh Breezes and open Cloudy Wr. Saw 3 Boobies. My health improving, but Head Ach at intervals.
Frid'y23rdSSEWSW1229°..41′S95°..52′ Merid Alt'd Odot Center 88°..7′
Cocos Isles S¼E Dist. 139 Ms.
Fresh Breezes and fair Wr. Found to day, that the Dutch regulate their Compass by an inner moveable Circle and always Steer a true Course. A very dangerous busyness as a Villian may move the Card and a Ship be lost by it. Saw Gannets and Boobies.
Saturd'y24SSE
&
SE
SWbW12210..49S94°..11′E Merid Alt'd Odot Center 88°..55′
Varia'n PM by me 1°..8′E
Fresh Breezes and fair. Smoked below. The Ship, Men and bedding very dirty. Saw Flying Fish Boobies and Gannets. I learnt from the Captain to day that the Cocos Isles are full of Cocoa Nutt Trees. A Boat can land, but there is no anchorage. The Latitude is 12°..00′S and 96°..05′Et.
Sund'y25SSESW¾W11611°58′S92°..38′ Alt'd Odot Center 89°..42′
to the Southward
Fair Wr. I had forgot to remark that the People have a Prayer read to them every morning and Evening.
Mond'y26SESWbW10612°..59′W91°..09′ Alt'd Odot Center 89°..38′ to the North'd Fine Wr. My health still getting better, but still a slight Head Ach.
Tuesd'y27SE
ESE
SWbW7913°..45′90°..03′89°..29′EAlt'd Odot Center 89°..12′
Varia pr Azth 0..21W by me
Do. Wr. and light Winds in the latter part. Many Tropic Birds about. A Slight Head Ach.
Wednesd'y28ESE
SE
SSW
SE & ESE
S55°W5414°..16′S89°17′E88°..43E Alt'd Odot Center 89°01′
Varia pr Azh. PM 0°..48′W
Do. AM by the Capt. 0°..38′E
Do. Wr. Variable Winds in the latter part. Struck a Dolphin. No wonder Dutch Ships make long passages if they carry as little Sail as we do. This Afternoon I got a set of Lunar Observations West of the Odot which gave the Long'd 89°..20′ Et. at 3h..49′.
Thursd'y29SE
Calm
SE
SW4614°..54′S88°..43′88°..09′EAlt'd Odot Center 88°..43′
Varia pr Azth 0..52E by the Capt.
Light Variable Winds with some Showers and Calms. I have been happily free of Head Ach and Fever to day.
Frid'y30SE
SSE
SE
S58°W10115°..48′87°..13′86°..39′EAlt'd Odot Center 88°..09′
Varia'n by me 1°..00W
Squally Wr. with Showers of Rain and fair Intervals. Under Single Reefs. My Health tolerable well.
Saturd'y31SE
SSE
So.
S53°W12817°..06′85°..26′84°52′E Alt'd Odot Center 87°..11′
Varia'n pr Azth 1°..43′W.
Fresh Gales and open Cloudy Wr. Cleaned and smoked Ship with Gunpowder. This is the name only of cleaning Ship, they gather up what loose dirt is about and smooke without confining the Hatches. The Men are stinking and dirty with long beards, and their Bedding a nuisance, as may be conceived when they have not washed Hammocks since they have been from Europe. The Capt. in his person and bedding equally dirty. Some of the people not a second shift of Cloaths. Cookery so bad I cannot make a meal; such nasty beasts.
Nov'r.
Sund'y
1S
SSE
SE
So.
SWbW½W14718°..15′S83°..10′E Merid Alt'd Odot Center 86°..22′ Fresh Breezes and Sea from the Southward. A Clear Sky. Tropic Birds seen and some Flying Fish. My Health appears now to be tolerably reestablished.

PreviousIntroductionHomeVlydtNov 2-20, 1789Next