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Fateful Voyage

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Revised Aug 27 2021

Providence Logbook Sep 30, 1792

Remarks Sunday 30th September 1792 Towards Timor

 1 pm: Fresh Breezes and fair Weather but very Hazy.

 2 pm: People Employed mending and washing their Clothes

 4 pm: Men of War Birds and Gulls, Many Fish.

 7 pm: Spoke the Assistant and directed them to lead Steering SWbW untill I made the Signal to hauld [sic] the Wind. In 2nd Reefs.

 1 am: Made the Signal to haul the Wind. No Ground at 80, 60, 50 and 53 fathoms of Line.

 4 am: Wore

 6 am: Saw Timor in the NWbN. Made the Signal to the Assistant. No Ground at 60 fathoms of line.

 8 am: Extremely Hazy Timor NNE½E to WbN 4 Leagues.
at 10 hour..30′ Saw Island Rottie WSW about 9 Leagues.

10 am: Mustered in Divisions and saw all hands clean.

11 am: Performed Divine Service.

12 noon: Fair Weather and Hazy. Rottie High Hill S74°W about 7 Leagues The Extremes of Rottie S70°W to N72°W 7 Leagues. Timor N32°W 6 Leagues to N50°E 6 Leagues off shore 4 or 5 Leagues.

Remarks

I expected to have made Timor this Evening but the Haze prevented it. At 8 O'Clock I ordered Lieut. Portlock to lead Steering SWbW as I did last Night for this I knew to be along shore Course, and at One O'Clock being in the Latitude of the South end, I made the Signal to haul the Wind.

At day break we saw the Land, and were a breast of a lofty Coast with an apparent bald Shore, where in several places white patches of bare Rock looked like Vessels under Sail. To the WNW the land was much lower, bu to the Eastward double land formed. The Country was Woody, yet I can scarce say thing of it such a prodigious haze prevented our seeing.

Towards Noon we could see the low land which terminates the West part of Timor towards Pulo Samow, and the Island Rottie to the Southward. The Southern part of Rottie has a regular high Hill on it, higher than any other part of the Land, and the Northen parts of the Islands form with several risings which from aloft appear connected or closely shut in by lower grounds. This is all I could observe. I supposed myself full 5 leagues to the Eastward of the entrance to Coupang, and were 10 Miles to the Southward of it. The Wind light, I was fearfull of its leaving us and not knowing what we might expect to meet with, I considered it most advisable to keep on a Wind and wait untill Morning, than enter Samow Straits towards Night, when I was not sure of finding Anchorage, but a very rapid Tide.


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