Sep 7, 1792 Home Providence Log Sep 9, 1792
Revised Aug 27 2021
1 pm: Fresh Gales and fair Weather with much Haze. Came to in 25 fathoms under F Island, at ½ past Noon, F N86°E 2 Miles G S5°W 2 or 3 Miles A S79E E S72°E. From the Mast Head saw other Island H, I, K & L bearing from the South to the SWbW½W 4 or 5 Leagues off.
5 pm: Washed and Cleaned Ship so that our Afternoon was not Idly spent
6 pm: Saw Natives on Island F, saw a Woman with some covering round her hips, a Dog. The Tops of Houses well thatched within some fences. Saw fires on Island B.
8 pm: Fresh Gales and fair Weather. In Boats and Down Top Gallant Yards.
11 pm: Situation of this Morning, Anchoring Place called Good road
Latitude 9°..37′ South
Longitude 143..15 East
5 am: As soon as the Sun got up we could see tolerably well. Began to heave up. Sent the Boats to the Assistant to lead a head. Sailed under close Reefed Top Sail. F Island East 3 or 4 Miles G SbE 3 Miles.
8 am: Saw a Sandy Key in the WbS. Sholes appeared in a short time in all directions but SW. Steered by Conning the Ship from the Mast Head and at last having cleared the Key, hauled up under H Island and made the Signal to prepare to Anchor.
12 noon: At 11 hour..50′ Came too in 15 fathoms Sand and Clay, in a pretty Road, H Island bearing S7°E 1 Mile to S72°E 2 Miles abreast of a Deserted Village and fine Sandy Beach. An Island bore S8°W called M and 4 others to the Eastward of it were in sight which were seen at the last Anchoring place. A great Shole extended from S50°W round by the West to N¾W.
The Afternoon Sun being a blind with respect to observing danger, which in the forenoon is altogether as favorable, I waited untill the Morning before I got under Sail. On the South we were shut in with a number of low Woody Isles, but in the West and North all appeared clear. An hours Sail however showed us Shoals in the Direction we hoped to Steer, and the Water Shoalned. Many Banks I thought lay in the North, and I therefore determined to Steer for an Island called H. As we came near it, we saw a Sandy Key to the North of it, and an extensive Bank in the West, and others to the NE of the Sandy Key. Midway between Sandy Key and H we had 12 fathoms. When I hauled to the Southward and Anchored in a Charming little Road under Island H, the bottom Sand and a kind of Clay.
Abreast of us was a small Village consisting of a dozen or 15 Hutts with flat roofs. Each had a Door way, but no Door. Several of the Hutts joined together and formed one Front. They were slightly built and covered with mattings or Palm Thatch. Three Cannoes were hauled up on the Beach, and we saw a Dog. I concluded the Natives were either out a fishing, or had retired into the Woods at our approach.
This Isle is not above a Mile or Mile and half round, and its surface not 20 feet above the level of the Sea, yet this little spot is covered with Wood, and Trees of a very large size, branching like Forrest Oaks. Except the Islands A B and C all we have seen are of this kind, very small spots covered with Wood.
The Winds were now very strong and our safety depended on great caution, I therefore prepared the Boats to explore to the SW which was the only open pass for us to proceed.
Fortunately I got some good observations of the Sun and Moon, by which I was satisfied my Time Keepers erred not materially from the truth.
I have now no doubt of the space North of F Island to North Reef being full of Shoals.
Sep 7, 1792 Home Providence Log Sep 9, 1792