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Fateful Voyage

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Revised Jun 30 2021

Bounty Logbook May 27, 1789

HKFCoursesWindsRems: Wednesday 27th May 1789 In the Bountys Launch
14"WestSEFine Wr. I think Monsr. Bougainville was about this Track in the month of June and had weather very like to what I have experienced. It also runs to the Eastwd of the Friendly Islands but from 100 leags. to the Eastd of them to Otaheite and to the Eastwd the weather in these months is more Serene and Settled.
24
34
44
544
646ESEAt 6 Caught another Booby. The blood eat by those who were the weakest. The maw contained several Small Flying Fish & squids all of which I ordered to be kept for dinner.
744
845
944
1044
1144
124
144
24
336
44
536
654""Caught another Booby and prepared it for dinner with the other caught last night. Served 1/24 lb Bread and a Jill of water for Breakfast.
75
854
95Many Birds Boobies and Noddies.
105
115
125""Fine Wr. but very hot. People very faint. I divided the two Birds with all the offals and Fish and distributed the Shares with Bread and water as yesterday
109Meridn. Altd.
OdotCenter
55°..13′
2262
2371
 LatitudeLongitude
CourseDist.Obsd.D. R.D. R. 
N82°W20913°..26′S13°..27′S146°..16′E

Journal

The weather is now serene but unhappily we feel we are not able to bear the suns heat, many of us suffering a languor and faintness which gives an indifference to life. We were however so fortunate to catch two Boobies to day their Stomachs contained several Flying Fish and Squids all of which I saved to be to be divided for dinner.

We passed much drift wood and saw many Birds. I therefore did not hesitate to pronounce that we were near the Reefs of New Holland and assured every one I would now without delay make the Coast in about the Parralell I was in and Range the Reef untill I found an opening through which we should get into Smooth water and pick up some supplies. From my recollection of Captn. Cooks Survey of this Coast it considered the situation of it to be NW and I was therefore satisfied that with the Wind to the southward of East I could always clear any danger. I found it also absolutely necessary to give a change to the miserable Situation some of my People were in.

At Noon after writing up my account I divided the two Birds with the entrails and contents of their maws into 18 portions, and as the prize was a very valuable one it was divided as before by calling out who shall have this? so that today with with [sic] the allowance of 1/24 lb of water[*] at Breakfast and another at dinner with the proportion of water I was happy to see that every person thought he had feasted.

[* It is 'water' and underlined in the original, and there is a check mark to the left of the line.]


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