Sep 4, 1792 Home Providence Log Sep 6, 1792
Revised Aug 27 2021
1 pm: Moderate Breezes and fine Weather. The Assistant leading with Boats a head. Shole Water laid between us and A
4 pm: At 4 OClock in 21 fathoms with the small Bower, veered ½ Cable. Island A N52°W to N64W distant 4 Leagues B S35°E to S40°E 5 Leagues C S31E about 4 Leagues a Sandy Key (Cannoe Key) S56W 4 Miles Shole Water between the Key and A induced me to send the Master and 2nd Lieutenant to examine it.
8 pm: Fresh Breezes. Boats returned; but were too late to gain the necessary knowledge of the dangers, prepared them for the Morning. Several Cannoes were seen with Oblong Sails. Could see nothing more distinctly.
12 mid: Very fresh Breezes and fair Weather
4 am: Sent the 3rd Lieutenant and Master away again to Cannoe Key to discover if any passage is there, as we cannot move without a knowledge of it. Cautioned them to be friendly to the Natives and endeavor to gain their Friendship if they came to them.
8 am: Saw several large Sailing Cannoes, had an oblong Sail, were a fishing about the Reefs. Could see nothing of them distinctly.
10 am: Saw the Boats returning. Cutter made the Signal for assistance, sent the Pinnace Manned and Armed.
12 noon: Moderate and fair Weather with much Haze. Whale Boat returned a little before Noon. Cannoe Key is now covered we therefore know the Flood comes from the ESE and sets WNW.
Soon after Noon we Shoaled the Water from 31 to 15 fathoms along the Shoal to the Eastward of A, Boats to leeward had only 12 fathoms. Then deepened to 23, 20 & 25 fathoms. We had a Cast of 35 & 41 fathoms. About One O'Clock we found we were standing towards a Sandy Key and Shoal Water that extended towards the Islands in the SE, B & C, and we saw White Water to the Southward of A. At 4 O'Clock our bottom was good & a moderate depth, I therefore came to an Anchor and sent away the 3rd Lieutenant in one Boat, and Mr. Nichols the Master in another, to go and examine the passage to leeward. Night only permitted them to go so far as the Key, where they found sufficient depths of Water, but could say nothing of the Channel round it. I ordered every thing to be got ready for them to proceed in the Morning.
At day light they were down at the Key, and were on their return towards Noon, when the Master by having the best rowing Boat got on board. Lieut. Tobin we observed make the Signal for Assistance, I therefore judged his People were fatigued, sent him fresh Hands in the Pinnace.
We have seen several large Cannoes, about the Shoals fishing, but can give no description of them being at too great a distance.
All this day the Haze has been very great and prevented our seeing distinctly with our Glasses; but the Island B appeared as large or larger than A, its Western part being the highest and forms a Hill. C lies about 2 Miles to the Westward of it, a small high round lump of Land, and between those two appeared a low small Island or Key. The whole wooded like A.
During the Forenoon we observed the Sandy Key (which we call Cannoe Key) to cover with the Tide, the Flood therefore must come from the ESE or East, for about East & West I think is the set of the Stream.
Sep 4, 1792 Home Providence Log Sep 6, 1792