Sep 15, 1792 Home Providence Log Sep 17, 1792
Revised Aug 27 2021
1 pm: Fresh Gales and Squally with much Haze.
2 pm: People Employed mending and Washing their Cloaths.
4 pm: At ½ past 5 The Assistant worked up and Anchored near me. Lieut.
Portlock reported to me he had not found less than 5 fathoms from that to 6 and 7. He fetched
in with the SE part of the Reef from whence it appeared to tend to the SW. Towards the High
Land called R it was clear of Shoals as far as he could see. I determined to Weigh with
the Weather Tide and proceed in the Morning.
Saw annimals about 15 or 20 feet long something like Seals.
3 am: Swayed the lower Yards up and sent away the Whale Boat on board the Assistant to attend her.
6 am: Weighed and Sailed under 3 Reefs. Assistant leading. Too much Sea for the Boats.
8 am: The Brothers S77°E 2 or 3 Leagues. Wind lessened and we continued to increase our Sail to enable us to clear the Reef to leeward. Happily we did it, and carried Soundings of good bottom & even, in a direct course for Island R. Some other Islands to the Westward and others to the SE appearing.
12 noon: Fresh Gales and Hazy. High Mountain of R and a small Island under it on at S2°W, distant from the small Island 3 Miles, and from the Mountain 11 Miles. Islands from N64°W 4 Leagues round by the West to S60°E 7 or 8 Leagues. A Sandy Key EbS 5 Miles.
That I might continue to preserve the health of my People, my domestick oeconomy became as necessary as the more arduous parts of my duty; I therefore directed every person to be employed, as usual on Saturday, to wash and mend their Clothes.
At ½ past 3 The Assistant got under way, and at ½ past 5 Anchored near us. Lieut. Portlock reported to me he had not been able to Weather the Reefs but had seen the East part, from whence it tended to the SW. The least Water he met with was 5 fathoms and in crossing it back to his Anchorage, had seen some of the Animals I have mentioned on the 14th.
To explore any further with the Brig or Boats was to send them out of my sight, I could not in that case have it in my power to help them with my advice whatever might happen to them, and I began to doubt of there being Water sufficient in the Channel to the WNW to the South of the Island T; for the land was low. A large space was open in the SW towards the High Island R which with the height of the land made me determine to Weigh with both Vessels and explore that way as soon as the Weather Tide would enable me to work round the East part of the Reef.
Having explained myself fully to Lieut. Portlock, I gave him directions to be ready to get under way in the Morning. We were under Sail at Sun rise with such a fresh Gale as rendered our Boats useless, for we were obliged to carry to it to clear the Reef, which we now found to be of considerable extent. Nothing could exceed the regularity of the Soundings. Anchoring however would have been a misfortune to us, as much Sea came from the SE on account of the Barrier of Reefs being further from us than we have experienced before. The Tide running to the Westward, our Course was to the SW in sight of the Breakers, which we thought to connect with Island u, I therefore determined to stand in for anchorage towards some small Islands that lay North of Island R, and made the Signals to that effect to the Assistant.
At Noon we found the Island R to be of more extent than any we have yet seen. Its high Mountain lies in the NE part of it. To the Westward and South of the Island U, lay an Island called V of nearly equal extent with R, and between it and U, appeared an open passage. In the SE lay three lofty Islands, one of them called S was seen from our Anchoring ground to the Eastward of the Brothers at 10 Leagues distance. The Southermost I knew to be the Island I have called the Peaked Hill in my last Voyage; and now confirmed to me, that Island R is the Mountainous Island with a very high round Hill. All the Islands are lofty and different from the Sandy Keys we have passed to the Eastward, being without Verdure, altho not destitute of Wood.
Sep 15, 1792 Home Providence Log Sep 17, 1792