Aug. 14-18, 1789  Home  Logbook Remarks GM  William Bligh

Bounty Logbook Remarks, Aug. 19-20, 1789

Remarks at Coupang 19th and 20th August 1789

Fresh Breezes Easterly and Fair Weather.
Wednesday 19th. I now closed all my Accounts both for Victualling and every other nature and gave Bills on His Majesty's Navy and Victualling Boards.

I left Letters to the Lords of the Admiralty and Navy and Victualling Board to be sent by the first ship that sailed.

On the 20th in Forenoon I embarked and prepared to Sail. I left the Governor at the Point of Death. To this Gentleman is most our most [sic] gratefull thanks for the humane and freindly treatment that we have received from him, and whose miserable state of health only prevented him from showing me more particular marks of his attention. Unhappily it is to his memory only that I now pay this poor Tribute. But it was a fortunate circumstance that the Secunde Mr. Wanjon was equally susceptible and ready to releive us. His attention was unremitting, and more than all when there was a doubt about supplying me with money on Government Account to enable me to purchase a Vessel to proceed on my Voyage, he cheerfully took it upon himself without which it was evident I should be too late at Batavia to sail for Europe with the Fleet on the last of October. I can only return such Services by mentioning them to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that if it may appear to their Lordships worthy of their Attention Mr. Wanjon may receive such promotion as to know his Zeal to assist His Majestys subjects has not been forgot.

Mr. Max the Surgeon has attended us with the utmost care, for which I could not get him to render in any Account or answer, than that it was his Duty and would receive no payment.

In the Afternoon I sailed and was saluted by the Shipping which I returned. At this Date at Noon Log Account begins being 12 Hours earlier than Civil Account of time according to which my Diary at Coupang has been kept.

I shall close my account with a few remarks I have omitted to mention among my common occurrences.

The Town of Coupang is situated about 12 miles to the NE of the SW point of Timor and in the SW part of a Great Bay where is a most excellent Road for Shipping. The Town consists of about 150 Houses including Malays & Chinese. Its situation is perhaps peculiarly desireable on Account of the Road and a fine River, and to the latter we may without Error attribute the great share of health that the Inhabitants enjoy. It is also very advantageous to their Trade as it can admitt Vessels of 6 feet draught of water.

The European Houses are built of Stone with large Piazzas which with fine Trees branching over them. The whole of the dwelling is cool and agreeable. The River divides the Town. The Chinese Houses are along the Sea shore and the Fort is on a small emminence on the West side of the Rivers mouth across which is a Bar of sand.

Along the Banks of the River grow very fine shady Trees where the walk is agreeable even at Noon Day, but the common Mall as it may be called terminates about 1 mile from the Town at a place called Montassy a little country retirement of the Governors. Farther that this the Roads are wild and irregular.

I may confine the Superior Class of Inhabitants to four Families and among those no European women their dress therefore is not after our Fashion except in the Gown and Petticoat, and the first is only worn at particular times the common Bedgown being the General dress. They wear their Hair combed smooth back and formed in a Rose or Ting on the back of the Head secured by Diamond Pins and Combs richly Ornamented with Diamonds. Their complexion if fair in proportion as their removes are from the Malay Origin. They use the Beetle and have gold and Silver Equipage for that use, but the young Women do not chew it publickly. They are particularly nice and clean in their persons and some of them very pretty women. Dancing is not common they have nevertheless a taste for music and play very prettily on the Harp. Ombre and Quinze fill up their vacant houses when they are disposed to visit, which with their parties in bathing and little excursions in the Country are all their amusements. But the life of this little community depends on the Governor, and perhaps no one was better calculated to dispense such blessings than the late Mr. Van Este on whose account this little Village may be Said not to be in a Situation to have its Character justly drawn.

Poultry Hogs and Goats are a common property as likewise the Karrabow, but other horned Cattle and Sheep all that I saw belonged to the Governor.

With respect to my nautical remarks I can only say that the Island is about 64 leagues Long from SW to NE. The SW and South point is in the latitude of 10°24′ South. I observed the latitude of Coupang to be 10°12′ South and from the Dutch Account the latitude of the NE and North End is 8°40′ South. From the same authority the Longitude of Coupang is 121°51′ East of Greenwich. This I may be able to ascertain hereafter by my run to Batavia.

A large Island called Pulo Samow forms the Road of Coupang on the West. It also extends round the West End of Timor and gives some secure situations in the West Monsoon, and the Anchorage is so extensive on each Side that numerous Fleets may Anchor in safety. Of course there are two Entrances into Coupang Road. Off the southermost lies the Island Rotty to the SWBS and in the middle of the north Entrance is a Small Island surrounded by a Reef which must be given a good birth to. The north Entrance is the most elligible for Ships that are bound to Coupang.

Wood and Water is always to be got here, but refreshments precarious, it is however an elligible stopping if ships make Endeavour Streights a common pass to and from Botany Bay.

Aug. 14-18, 1789  Home  Logbook Remarks GM  William Bligh