May. 6, 1789
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Logbook Remarks GM
May. 8, 1789
Revised May 22 2021
1:00 pm Fair Weather and Hazy.
4:00 pm At 5¾h the extremes of the Island L (set NBW at Noon) NBW½W to NE¼E.; Island I on the South extending as far as SWBW and on the North Island L as far as NW½W Could see nothing more.
7:00 pm At 6 passed over a Shoal Bank with only four feet water on it with no break, at least 6 leagues from the Shore.
9:00 pm Served a Jill of water and an ounce of rotten Bread for Supper.
1:00 am Light Squalls.
4:00 am At day break discovered more land. M from WNW to WSW 8 leagues distant a High round Hill Island N bore NNW 6 leagues and I could see the land I bearing SE to SSE. Hazy Weather.
8:00 am At 9 hours 30′ I found we were set to the SW by a Current and could not weather the land in the NW. I therefore Tacked but the Wind varying I got on the North Tack again Extreme SWBW½W to NW 7 miles off Shore. Served a Spoonfull of Rum and a bit of Bread for Breakfast.
11:00 am At 10 hours Variable Weather mostly Cloudy Two small Rocky Islets now made the North extreme of the land, which we had to weather against a lee current setting upon ye shore
12:00 pm Cloudy Weather with baffling Winds. We now saw two large Sailing Cannoes coming after us along shore within the Islets which now bore WNW 2 miles and the High Round Hill Island NEBE. Out Oars and rowed to the NW. Southermost part of the Shore SBW.
Remarks: Latitude at Noon by protracted bearings 16°29′ South
I continued my Course to the NW between the Islands which by the Evening appeared of considerable extent woody and mountainous. The northermost bore NBW½W to NE½E and the Southermost from South to SWBW. At 6 oClock I was nearly midway between them, and about 6 leagues distant from each Shore when I fell in on a Coral Bank where I had only 4 feet water without the least break or ruffle of the Sea to give us warning. I could see that it extended about 1 mile or 2 in Circuit; but as it is not improbable that it extends much further I have laid it down so in my Sketch.
I now directed my course WBN for the night and served each person an ounce of the Rotten Bread and a Jill of water for their Supper.
It may readily be supposed that our Lodgings are very miserable and confined and I have it only in my power to remedy the last defect by putting ourselves at watch and watch so that one half is sitting up while the other has no other Bed than the Bottom of the Boat or upon a Chest and nothing to cover us but the Heavens. Our Limbs are dreadfully Cramped for we cannot Stretch them out; and the nights are so cold and being generally very wet, we scarce move ourselves after a few hours Sleep.
At Dawn of Day I again discovered land from WNW to WSW and another Island NNW. The latter a high round lump of but little extent, and I could see the Southern land I had passed in the night. Being very cold I served a teaspoonfull of Rum and a morsel of Bread for Breakfast. As I advanced towards the land in the west it appeared in a variety of forms; some extraordinary high Rocks, and the country agreeably interspersed with high and low land covered in some places with wood, with some projecting high Clifts to the Sea, and off the NE part lay two small Rocky Islets between which & the Island to the NE 4 leagues apart I directed my course but a lee current very unexpectedly set me very near to the Shore and I could only get clear of it by rowing, passing over the Reef that surrounded the Rocky Islets. We now observed two large Sailing Cannoes coming swiftly after us along shore, and being apprehensive of their intentions we rowed with some anxiety being too sensible of our weak and defenceless State. Being constantly wet it is with the utmost difficulty I can open a Book to write, & I am sensible that I can do no more than to point out where these Lands are to be found & give an Idea of their extent.
May. 6, 1789
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May. 8, 1789