The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay: With an Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island (1789)Phillip, Arthur
History
The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay: With an Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island (1789)
Phillip, Arthur
Natural history -- Australia -- New South Wales; New South Wales -- Discovery and exploration; Norfolk Island
The scurvy now began to spread very fast among the crew, and by the 6th,
they had nine men unable to get out of their hammocks, and many others
complained very much: swelled gums, the flesh exceeding black and hard, a
contraction of the sinews, with a total debility; were the general
appearances. Wine was daily served out to them, and there was sour-krout
on on board, but the people refused to eat it. From this to the 17th they
had little variety; by that time the people were in a deplorable state,
for with every person on board, the Captain included, they could only
muster ten men able to do duty, and some of them were in a very weakly
state: sour-krout, which before had been refused, now began to be sought
after, and they had all the Captain's fresh stock, himself and officers
living solely on salt provisions; and to add to their melancholy
situation the wind hung almost constantly in the eastern board, so that
they could scarcely make any progress. For several days they had very
squally unsettled weather, attended with almost constant heavy rain, and
frequent storms of thunder and lightning. On the 24th, being then in 32°.
12'. south latitude, and 207°. 28'. east longitude, the wind shifted to
the westward, but the weather still continued squally and unsettled. On
the 7th July, in 21°. 57'. south latitude, they fell in with the
south-east trade wind, and as the people were in a very weak condition,
it was determined to make Otaheite as soon as possible. At six o'clock in
the morning of the 9th, they saw Osnaburgh Island, bearing north by east,
half east, four or five leagues distant. At seven they bore up for
Otaheite, and at ten o'clock that island made its appearance, bearing
west by north; by five in the afternoon they were abreast of Oaitepeha
Bay, and ten canoes presently came alongside with bread-fruit, cocoa
nuts, etc. The Indians pressed them very much to come to an anchor there,
but as they were not able to purchase their anchor again when once let
go, Mr. Watts advised the Captain to stand on for Matavai Bay. During the
night they wore occasionally, and at day-light in the morning of the 10th
stood in for the land. At noon, Point Venus bore south-west by south
about three miles distant. In standing into Matavai Bay the ship got
rather too close on the Dolphin Bank, having only two and a half fathoms
water for several casts, over a hard bottom, but she deepened at once to
seventeen fathoms, and they stood over to the south side of the bay, in
hopes by making a board, to fetch the Resolution's old birth, which would
have made the watering place very handy; but the ship missing stays, they
were obliged to let go the anchor, and content themselves in their
situation. They anchored at nine o'clock in eight fathoms water, over a
soft bottom, Point Venus bearing north-north-east, and One Tree Hill
south by east, half east, distant from shore about half a mile. On
approaching the bay, they could perceive a prodigious number of the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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