Aug 10, 1792 Home Providence Log Aug 12, 1792
Revised Aug 27 2021
1 pm: Moderate and dark Cloudy Weather
4 pm: Extremes of No. 2 land S33°W to S53°W off Shore 4 Leagues Four Islets off it S55°W to S84°W
6 pm: No. 2 the Southermost and Eastermost land S45°W to S78°W off Shore 3 Leagues and about 6 Leagues from the South part. The Islets from S87°W to N68°W three to five Leagues and now 5 in number.
9 pm: Small Rain and dark Weather
12 mid: Thick Rainy Weather
4 am: Squally, Considering myself round the land, took in first Reefs
6 am: Saw the Land from NWbW to NbE, Bore away Out all Sail
8 am: Dark Cloudy Weather but an interval of Sun gave one good Altitude The West part of the land (a high Mountain seen Yesterday afternoon) N58°W. the Northermost extreme in sight NbW, no other part of the land distinct.
12 noon: Thick Rainy Weather. Extremes of the Land from N16W (the Mountain) 4 or 5 leagues
to N34°E. An Island close to the Shore N15°E.
Country Moderately Woody, Lofty like Continental Land, Saw Cocoa Nutt Trees and Smoke. The
Weather so thick and Dirty could get no sight of the Sun.
Assistant in Company
At 4 O'Clock we were abreast of the Rocky Islets. On the largest were several smokes, and it was prettily covered with Trees. There is no passage among these Isles for Vessels of any size, the Ground appears very broken, and perhaps formed a ridge of Breakers all the way to the Shoal to the Northward of them.
Night closed upon us before we could be within a proper distance to observe much of the land or Main (of these Rocky Keys) which was called No. 2. It was very high and was diversified with Hill and Dale interspersed with Trees. Cultivation no doubt equal to any of the other Islands.
At day light I no longer found any Land to the Southward of us. The High flat Topt Mountain see Yesterday was now also the West part of the Land, and as I steered for it, we passed the South side of No. 2 which I suspect is three Islands about 10 Leagues in extent from ENE to WSW. The whole Country was like Continental Land doubling Hill over Hill. Moderately Woody and cultivated. Saw many Smokes and Cocoa Nutt Trees; but the Weather was so unfavorable, that we could not observe any thing with great certainty.
A small high Island lay a few Miles to the SE of the Mountain, which was also well cultivated.
I could get no observation at Noon, however, by the Assistance of my Map, I am inclined to think we were not above a Mile or two wrong in our situation.
In connecting these Islands I have now discovered, with those I discovered in the Bountys Launch, they have an extent of full 90 Leagues from East to West and full 53 Leagues from North to South. The NW and Western Islands are much the largest, some of them have I dare say, twenty or thirty Leagues of Coast. I have now opened away to their being regularly surveyed, if I had a Month to spare I would have completed it myself. The difficulties I expect to meet with in exploring my way through between New Holland and New Guinea with a contrary Monsoon advancing calls for my utmost exertions to avoid delay.
Aug 10, 1792 Home Providence Log Aug 12, 1792