GEORGES ISLAND
May 1769
Night, & a Promise from Tootaha that he would come to the Ship in a Day or two with more & bring with him the things that are lost, a promise that we had no reason to expect he would fulfill, thus ended our Visit & we got to the Fort late in the evening-
TUESDAY 30.th We are now every buisey[sic] in Preparing our Instruments &tc for the Observation & Instructing such Gentlemen in the use of them as I intend to send to other parts to observe for fear we should fail here-
WEDNESDAY 31.st Late this Evening the Carpenters finished the Longboat.
[note left margin] June
THURSDAY 1.st This day I sent Lieutenant Gore in the Longboat to York Island with Dr Monkhouse & Mr Sporing/ a Gentleman belonging to Mr Banks/ to Observe the Transit of Venus Mr Green having Furnished them with Instruments for that purpose Mr Banks & some of the Natives of this Island went along with them-
FRIDAY 2.d Very early this morning Lieut.t Hicks Mr Clerk Mr Pickersgill & Mr Saunders went away in the Pinnace to the
[note left margin] dispatch'd People away to Observe the Transit. -
Eastward with orders to fix upon some Convenient situation on this Island & there to Observe the Transit of Venus they being likewise provided with Instruments for that purpose-
SATURDAY 3.d This day proved so favourable to our Purpose as we could wish, not a Cloud was to be seen the whole day & the Air was Perfectly Clear, so that we had every advantage we
[note left margin] the transit of Venus observ'd
could desire in observing the whole of the Passage of the Planet Venus over the Suns Disk; we very distinctly saw an Atmosphere or Dusky Shade round the body of the Planet which very much disturbed the times of the Contact particularly the two internal ones, Dr Solander observed as well as Mr Green & my self, & we differ'd from one another in Observing the times of the Contact much more than could be expected- Mr Greens Telescope & mine where of the same Magnifying power but that of the Doctor was greater than ours, it was nearly calm the whole day & the Thermometer Exposed to the Sun about the Middle of the day rose to a degree of heat we have not before meet with-
SUNDAY 4.th Punished Arch.d Wolf with 2 Dozen lashes for Theft. having broke into one of the Storerooms & stol'n from thence a large quantity of Spike Nails some few of them where found upon him. This evening the Gentlemen that were sent to observe the Transit of Venus return'd with success, those that were sent to York Island were well received by the Natives, that Island appear'd to them to be very fruitful-
MONDAY 5.th Got some of the Bread ashore out of the Bread Room to dry & Clean Yesterd.y being His Maj.s birthday we keep it today & had several of the Chiefs to dine with us.-
TUESDAY 6.th This day & for some days past we have been informed by several of the Natives that about 10 or 15 Months ago, Two Ships touched at this Island & stay'd 10 Days in a Harbour to the Eastward called Ohidea the Commanders name was Toothere so at least the Native call'd him & that one of the Natives Brother to the Chief of Ohidea went away with him they likewise