An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk IslandHunter, John
History
An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island
Hunter, John
New South Wales -- History -- Sources
At half past three o'clock in the morning of the 5th, we saw a
small island bearing west half south, not more than a mile and a
half from the vessel; on this we hauled our wind to the
southward, and tacked occasionally until day-light. We sounded
with twenty-six fathoms, over a bottom of blue mud. This island
is called in the charts _Pulo Packit:_ it is very low and
covered with trees. There are two islands laid down in Dunn's and
Moore's charts, but we only saw one island, and a rocky reef:
this island is laid down in Dunn's chart in 6 deg. 18 deg. south,
but its real latitude is 5 deg. 50' south: this mistake had very
near proved fatal to the Supply, but it being a moon-light night,
the danger was discovered, though at the distance of two miles
only. Ships bound to the westward, or to Batavia from Carimon
Java, should steer west half north, or west by north, to avoid
the shoal to the northward of Pulo Packit.
In the afternoon, seeing a brig at anchor under the land, we
bore up in order to speak her, and in standing in, had regular
soundings to seven fathoms. I went with Mr. Ball on board the
brig, where we learned that the point of _Pamonakan_ bore
south-south-west from us; on this, we returned on board the
Supply and made sail, and in the afternoon of the 6th, we
anchored in Batavia Road. Upwards of thirty Dutch ships were
lying there, besides a number of snows and Chinese junks.
The next morning, I waited on the general, at the request of
Lieutenant Ball, and settled the salute, which took place at five
in the evening, when the Supply saluted the fort with nine guns,
which were returned by an equal number.
On the 8th, Lieutenant Ball waited on the general, accompanied
by the Shebander and myself. As the general could not speak any
other language than Dutch, and the Shebander could not speak
sufficient English to explain himself, I was obliged to interpret
between Lieutenant Ball and the latter; and I beg here to remark,
that during this conversation, which was in the general's office,
we were not asked to sit down; indeed, had the general been
polite enough to have made the offer, there was not a second
chair in the room; so unusual a thing is it to be seated in the
general's presence, when talking to him on business.
After Lieutenant Ball had signified his business, and the
service he was sent on, a number of frivolous enquiries were made
respecting the setlement at New South Wales, and much
astonishment was expressed, that we came from that country and
could not tell _what became of the Bounty, Lieutenant Bligh's
Ship_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account