Aug. 29, 1788
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Logbook Remarks GM
Aug. 31, 1788
Revised Jun 8 2021
Very Hard Gales and Rainy Weather with Lightning in the night. Our Water was now complete to 41 Tons. In the Forenoon had some fair Intervals and the Best Use was made of them.
I went with Mr. Nelson to the East side of the Bay and Planted three fine young Apple Trees in a growing state, nine Vines, six Plantains, a number of Orange & Lemon seed, Cherry Stones, Plumb Stones, Peach, Apricot and Pompions, also two sorts of Indian Corn, and Apple and Pear Pips. The ground is admirably adapted for the Trees; being a rich Marly soil, and their situations were chose clear of underwood. Large Trees were notched and Cut around where they were Planted. Mr. Nelson followed the circuit of the Bay and every where planted Lemons, Oranges, Apples, Pears, Indian Corn of two sorts & Pompion seeds; complying cheerfully with my request to do good the most in our power to the Natives, or those who may come after us. If they succeed equal to our Will and trouble in preserving and planting them, this part of the Country will be plentifully Stocked. I shall describe their Situation in my Plan of this Place.
It is now no longer a doubt to me of there being three kinds of Forrest Trees. I can discover the quality of the wood to differ nothing, but their leaves do much both in size and shape. One is a long curved leaf like a Seythe the other not half the length and Double the breadth, the point a little curved; but the last is a more delicate leaf, from three to four Inches long, pointed at the end and scarce ¼ of an Inch broad, mnore of an aromatic and less Pungent Smell than the other two, from which I imagine them all of the same Genus but different Species, and with respect to the Wood they will all answer the same end. I must leave the great numbers of smaller Trees to be described by him, however I must observe that there are many that could be called Trees except in such a Situation where there size is lost among such an innumerable set of larger ones. These Forrest Trees increase as much from seed or rather more than suckers. We past many spots where they were growing very thick, and pulled many of these young Plants up to assure ourselves of it. They certainly shed their Bark every year.
In my excursion we caught many Crabs with the Boat Hook, they are equally fine as those in England, but the Body is not so large and of a rounder form. The males differ from the Females more than any I have ever seen, having their two Fore claws or Feeders remarkably Small. The Legs of both being very Long. They may be better understood by the name of a Spider Crab. They are well tasted and pleasant food.
We have had these two days past many whales in the Bay of a considerable size. They were all of one kind having two blow holes at the back part of the head. I often regretted we had no proper Harpoons for them, a thing which in these Voyages any ship might easily get supplied with. The People still continue to catch very fine Rock Cod alongside and get tolerably supplied.
I made high water at 18 hours 49′ and rise 2 hours 8 minutes Moons Change.
Aug. 29, 1788
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Logbook Remarks GM
Aug. 31, 1788