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Fateful Voyage

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Revised Sep 16 2021

Flinders's Providence Logbook Apr 22-24, 1792

Remarks on board H. M. S. Providence In Matavai Bay – Otaheite

[undated] Fresh Breezes and Clear Weather A high Sea breaking over the Dolphin Bank & the Reef – the People washing and mending their Cloaths when unemployed from the absolutely necessary Duty – AM Moderate Breeze and heavy Swell from the Northward the Ship rolling a little – At 8 Calm and fine Weather 200 Garden Pots Sent on shore by the Launch – The Ships Company mustered in Divisions and Divine Service performed to them by the Captain – The Ship sufficiently supplied with Pigs & Fruit – At Noon Fresh Breeze and Clear

Monday April 23rd 1792 Fresh Breezes and fine Weather A Party of Men had Liberty to go on shore – returned on board at Sunsett – at 8 Moderate Breezes and Cloudy Weather
AM Light Breezes and fair Weather 133 Garden Pots sent on shore per Launch Roused up the Best Bower Cable cleaned the Tier and payed down the Cable again – The Carpenters caulking the Sides – A very plentifull supply of Fruit and a tolerable one of Pigs – At Noon Fresh Breezes and fair Weather

Tueday 24th Moderate Breezes and fair Weather Sent 96 Garden Pots on shore by the Cutter. The Boats hoisted in before Dark the Launch excepted which is always moored alongside –
AM. Dark Cloudy Weather At 4 Moderate Breezes and fair – Sent 4 Casks and three Hencoops on shore by the Launch received a turn of Water by her Return – Employed getting the Spare Anchor out of the Main Hold – Part of the Carpenters making Rafters for a Green house and the rest employed caulking as before – The Ship tolerably supplied – The Salters kept at work
At Noon Moderate Breezes & fair Weather

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we had put flat Noses, short Hair and Cheeks without Colour into the Catalogue we could not have expected to have it perfect – the Oteheiteans refine upon Nature in gratifying their Passions several Ways, some of which I should not credit was I not well assured of the Truth – the Arms these People most trust to are a few Musketts they have got from Ships that have been here but there are very few amongst them that know how to use them and these almost to a Man got behind a Tree when they fire their other warlike Weapons are slings and Clubs. their Bows are only for Amusement or to kill Birds. The National Character for generostiy is a good deal lost at Matavai and Oparre where you will get nothing unless you have something to give them, but every where you meet with goo Nature in a smiling Countenance and will generally have a Troop of Children running before you singing and dancing the Heiva with great Appearance of satisfaction and proud if you take Notice of them –

We found Provisions cheaper than we could expect considering the Number of ships which have been here lately. They no longer prize small Nails and scarcely large ones. at this Time Scissors were a valuable Article presently nothing but wrought Iron will be of any Value, they begin to know a finished Knife from one that is not so, the general Trade made use of us on board us were Nails and Toeys the former for Bread fruit and Cocoa nutts the other for Hogs and for large Ones, Hatchets. All these had considerably diminished in Value before we came away. the Ladies are most fond of Shirts and Sheets, Iron work they will take but do not care much for

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