From New Guinea to Batavia
Septr. 1770
the Latde. of 8:15S Longde. 228:10W whereas in the Charts the S point is laid down in Latde. 9:30, it is possible that the Land we saw might be some other Island, but then I cannot see how we could have missed seeing Timor land, supposing it to be right laid down in Latde. as we were never to the Southward of 9:30 for my design was to have made that Island, & to have landed upon it to have seen what it produced as it is (according to the Charts) a large Island & not settled by the Dutch that I ever heard of. We were now in the Latitude of 9:37W Longde. 233:54W by observation of the Sun & Moon, & yesterday we were bly Observation in 233:27W the diffce. is 27 which is exactly the same as what the Log gave, this however is a degree of accuracy in observation that is seldom to be Expected
Wednesday 12th Winds between the S & W, a light breeze & Clear wear. In the PM stood in shore until 8 o'Clock then Tack'd & stood off, being about 6 Leags. from the Land, which at dark extend from SW½W to NE. at this time we sounded & had no ground with 140 fam. of line being not above 4 Leags. from the Land. At 12 o'Clock we Tack'd & stood in having but little wind & continued so until noon at which time we were by Observn. in Latde. 9:36S the Log this 24 Hours gave 18 Miles Westing, but it did not appear by the Land that we had made so much. We saw several Smoaks upon the Land by day & fires in the Night.
Thursday 13th Stood in shore with a light breeze at SbW until ½ past 5 o'Clock in the PM, when being a Mile & a ½ from the Shore & in 16 fam. we tack'd & stood off at this time the Extreams of the Land extended from NEbE to WbS½S this last was a low point distant from us about 3 Leags. we were right before a small Creek or Inlet into the low Land which lies in the Latde. of 9:34S. Probably it might be the same as Dampier went into in his Boat for it did not seem to have depth of water sufficient for anything else, in standing in shore we sounded several times but found no soundgs. until we got within 2½ Miles of the shore where we had 25 fam. soft bottom.
We stood off Shore until 12 o'Clock with the wind at S & then Tack'd & stood to the Westward 2 Hours, when the wind veer'd to the SW & WSW & then we stood to the Southwd.
In the Morning found the Variation to be 1:10W by the amplitude & by the Azimth. 1:27W. at Noon we were by Observn. in the Latde. of 9:45S Longde. 234:12W & about 6 or 7 Leags. from the land which extended from N31E to WSW½W. Winds at SSW a Gentle breeze ~
Friday 14th Light Land & Sea breezes, the former we had from WbN & only a few hours in the morning, the latter we had from the SSW & S. with these winds we advanced but slowly to the Westward, at Noon we were about 6 or 7 Leags. from the Land which extended from NbE to S78W, our Latde. by Observn. was 9:54S. Course & Diatance sail'd since yesterday noon S68W 24 Miles. We saw several Smoakes