Bligh's Vlydt Journal Oct 17-Nov 1, 1789

Introduction Home Vlydt Nov 2-20, 1789

Revised Jun 5 2021

Bligh's Vlydt Journal Oct 17-Nov 1, 1789

Week Day	Mo. Day	Winds	Courses	Dist. in Miles	Latitude	Longd. D.R.	Longd. Obsn.	Remarks	Remarks on board the Fly Packet from Batavia to Cape of Good Hope.
Oct'r. 1789 Saturd'y	17	Et. N SW W.&Calm						Pasing the Shore of Bantam	Moderate Breezes and Cloudy Wr with Thunder or Lightning and Rain. At 5 PM anchored to the Southward of Pulo Baby in 13 fms. Water, black sand (no bearings set) At day break Weighed & Sailed. Steering along shore with Variable Winds and Calms. Fever on me to Day.
Sund'y	18	Do.						Passing the Coast near Anger Point	Light Varia'l Winds & Calm. At 5 PM came to an Anchor in 15 fms. under Pulo Pisang. Pulo Toppersute WbN. Spoke an American Brig the Rambler. Sailed from Boston in Jan'y last. Eight weeks from Isle de France, bound to Batavia. AM weighed & Sailed. At Noon between Brabands hoedge and Isl'd Dwars in de Weg. Fever as Yesterday.
Mond'y	19	SE So. SEbS SSE	WSW	46	6..40S	102°..47′E		No Obsn. of Latitude	Thunder Light'g. & Rain. At Midnight Princes's Island So. Dist. 6 Miles. At Noon the Weather appeared very unsettled. I take my departure from Princes Island allowing it in 6..30 So. 103°..30′ Et.
Tuesd'y	20	Round the Compass	WbS¾S	88	7..10S	101°..24′Et			Heavy Rains with Calms. Sea from the Southward. The Vessel struck very heavy in the abaft, which obliged us to put in the Dead Lights. I Found no Fever to day.
Wednes'dy	21	SSE SE	SWbW	104	8..9S	99..57E		Merid Alt'd Center 87°..18′	Fresh Breezes and Cloudy. In working the latitude to Day the officers made no allowance for the Vari'n of Declin'n in this instance it was 6 Miles. A little Head Ach but no Fever.
Thursd'y	22nd	SE	W19°S	142	8..55S	97..45		Merid. Alt'd Center 87°..43′	Fresh Breezes and open Cloudy Wr. Saw 3 Boobies. My health improving, but Head Ach at intervals.
Frid'y	23rd	SSE	WSW	122	9°..41′S	95°..52′		Merid Alt'd Center 88°..7′ Cocos Isles S¼E Dist. 139 Ms.	Fresh Breezes and fair Wr. Found to day, that the Dutch regulate their Compass by an inner moveable Circle and always Steer a true Course. A very dangerous busyness as a Villian may move the Card and a Ship be lost by it. Saw Gannets and Boobies.
Saturd'y	24	SSE & SE	SWbW	122	10..49S	94°..11′E		Merid Alt'd Center 88°..55′ Varia'n PM by me 1°..8′E	Fresh Breezes and fair. Smoked below. The Ship, Men and bedding very dirty. Saw Flying Fish Boobies and Gannets. I learnt from the Captain to day that the Cocos Isles are full of Cocoa Nutt Trees. A Boat can land, but there is no anchorage. The Latitude is 12°..00′S and 96°..05′Et.
Sund'y	25	SSE	SW¾W	116	11°58′S	92°..38′		Alt'd Center 89°..42′ to the Southward	Fair Wr. I had forgot to remark that the People have a Prayer read to them every morning and Evening.
Mond'y	26	SE	SWbW	106	12°..59′W	91°..09′		Alt'd Center 89°..38′ to the North'd	Fine Wr. My health still getting better, but still a slight Head Ach.
Tuesd'y	27	SE ESE	SWbW	79	13°..45′	90°..03′	89°..29′E	Alt'd Center 89°..12′ Varia pr Azth 0..21W by me	Do. Wr. and light Winds in the latter part. Many Tropic Birds about. A Slight Head Ach.
Wednesd'y	28	ESE SE SSW SE & ESE	S55°W	54	14°..16′S	89°17′E	88°..43E	Alt'd Center 89°01′ Varia pr Azh. PM 0°..48′W Do. AM by the Capt. 0°..38′E	Do. Wr. Variable Winds in the latter part. Struck a Dolphin. No wonder Dutch Ships make long passages if they carry as little Sail as we do. This Afternoon I got a set of Lunar Observations West of the which gave the Long'd 89°..20′ Et. at 3h..49′.
Thursd'y	29	SE Calm SE	SW	46	14°..54′S	88°..43′	88°..09′E	Alt'd Center 88°..43′ Varia pr Azth 0..52E by the Capt.	Light Variable Winds with some Showers and Calms. I have been happily free of Head Ach and Fever to day.
Frid'y	30	SE SSE SE	S58°W	101	15°..48′	87°..13′	86°..39′E	Alt'd Center 88°..09′ Varia'n by me 1°..00W	Squally Wr. with Showers of Rain and fair Intervals. Under Single Reefs. My Health tolerable well.
Saturd'y	31	SE SSE So.	S53°W	128	17°..06′	85°..26′	84°52′E	Alt'd Center 87°..11′ Varia'n pr Azth 1°..43′W.	Fresh Gales and open Cloudy Wr. Cleaned and smoked Ship with Gunpowder. This is the name only of cleaning Ship, they gather up what loose dirt is about and smooke without confining the Hatches. The Men are stinking and dirty with long beards, and their Bedding a nuisance, as may be conceived when they have not washed Hammocks since they have been from Europe. The Capt. in his person and bedding equally dirty. Some of the people not a second shift of Cloaths. Cookery so bad I cannot make a meal; such nasty beasts.
Nov'r. Sund'y	1	S SSE SE So.	SWbW½W	147	18°..15′S	83°..10′E		Merid Alt'd Center 86°..22′	Fresh Breezes and Sea from the Southward. A Clear Sky. Tropic Birds seen and some Flying Fish. My Health appears now to be tolerably reestablished.