Sep 12, 1792 Home Providence Log Sep 14, 1792
Revised Aug 27 2021
1 pm: Moderate and fair Weather. Sent Lieut. Tobin and Mr. Nichols to examine the Shoals and Passage to the WNW.
4 pm: Fresh Gales. Struck Top Gallant Yards.
7 pm: The Boats returned, and reported they had found 5 and 6 fathoms Water over
a coarse bottom, but I found they had not been round the Shoal to the Northward. Their information
was only therefore East and North of the Shole and not in the Channel
The bad bottom, induced me to try the South passage if any, and ordered Lieut. Guthrie with two
Boats to be ready at 4 in the Morning to go away with the Ebb Tide to keep them to Windward.
12 mid: Strong Gale and Cloudy
4 am: Out Boats and sent them to search for a Passage South of the Shoal.
6 am: At ½ past 10 Lieut. Guthrie returned, and the report to me was, that they had found fine Anchoring Ground and depth 5 and 6 fathoms. In consequence I determined to Work to Windward with the next Ebb, if the Wind and Weather moderated and was fit, which is now become very unsettled and Squally.
9 am: Washed and Cleaned Ship. Saw Birds, Yellow Snakes, Bonetos
12 noon: Very Squally Weather and extremely Hazy
Situation of this 
Place
by my Map which differs with the Time Keepers 3 Miles.
Latitude 9°..41′ South.
Longitude 142..27 East.
A little after Noon I sent the Boats away to examine the Passage to the WNW, but instead of keeping round the Bank in that direction, they fell to the Northward and Eastward of it, so that after an absence from the Ship of 7 Hours, and my mind in constant anxiety about their getting back, they at last arrived without any information that could lead me to take the Passage. Their Soundings was generally 5 fathoms and sometimes 6, bottom coarse. They had 4 fathoms near to the Shoal which bore NNW from the Ship, and rather a low Island lying in the WNW, (T,) made me determine to try round the South end of the bank, the higher Islands lying in the SW. To accomplish this I sent off Lieut. Guthrie with 2 Boats at 4 O'Clock in the morning with the Weather Tide, which could only enable him to accomplish my design. At ½ past 10 he returned, and reported to me that 5 and 6 fathoms with a good bottom was his general Soundings, and that he had 4 fathoms near the East end of the Shoal, from whence it seemed to tend to the SW. In consequence of this I determined to go that Channel, and to enable me to do it, I was to get to Windward if possible with the next Ebb. At Noon the Weather became very Squally and blew Strong.
It is remarkable the Shoaling of the Soundings as I have proceeded Westward, but I hope it will not continue to decrease. I know it was the case with Captain Cook in passing to the Southward of Prince of Wales Islands. I therefore trust I shall find nothing worse here. In my present situation, without any shelter, and subject to much Sea, with a Ship drawing 16 Feet and half Water, 4 fathoms is not a pleasant depth. Hitherto the Weather has been sufficiently clear to show us our dangers, but now the Haze is like a Fog, and it is but seldom we can see the high Island. The Month of October is advancing fast upon us, and every thing urges me to get on.
When the Boats were away towards the Reefs Mr. Portlock informed me that he had seen some Annimals in the Water full 20 feet long, but he could not say what they were like. Should we be near the Main of New Guinea it is not improbable they were Alligators.
Sep 12, 1792 Home Providence Log Sep 14, 1792