We Had Hardly Cleared The Land When A South-East Wind Set In, And, Except
At Short Intervals, Continued To
Blow until the 19th of the month;
when we were in the latitude of 37 deg 40 min south, and
By the time-keeper,
in longitude 11 deg 30 min east, so that our distance from Botany Bay
had increased nearly an hundred leagues since leaving the Cape.
As no appearance of a change in our favour seemed likely to take place,
Governor Phillip at this time signified his intention of shifting his pennant
from the Sirius to the 'Supply', and proceeding on his voyage without waiting
for the rest of the fleet, which was formed in two divisions. The first
consisting of three transports, known to be the best sailors, was put under
the command of a Lieutenant of the navy; and the remaining three,
with the victuallers, left in charge of Captain Hunter, of his Majesty's ship
Sirius. In the last division was the vessel, in which the author
of this narrative served. Various causes prevented the separation from
taking place until the 25th, when several sawyers, carpenters, blacksmiths,
and other mechanics, were shifted from different ships into the 'Supply',
in order to facilitate his Excellency's intention of forwarding the necessary
buildings to be erected at Botany Bay, by the time the rest of the fleet
might be expected to arrive. Lieutenant Governor Ross, and the Staff
of the marine battalion, also removed from the Sirius into the
Scarborough transport, one of the ships of the first division, in order
to afford every assistance which the public service might receive,
by their being early on the spot on which our future operations
were to be conducted.
From this time a succession of fair winds and pleasant weather corresponded
to our eager desires, and on the 7th of January, 1788, the long wished for
shore of Van Diemen gratified our sight. We made the land at two o'clock
in the afternoon, the very hour we expected to see it from the
lunar observations of Captain Hunter, whose accuracy, as an astronomer,
and conduct as an officer, had inspired us with equal gratitude and admiration.
After so long a confinement, on a service so peculiarly disgusting
and troublesome, it cannot be matter of surprise that we were overjoyed
at the near prospect of a change of scene. By sunset we had passed between
the rocks, which Captain Furneaux named the Mewstone and Swilly.
The former bears a very close resemblance to the little island near Plymouth,
whence it took its name: its latitude is 43 deg 48 min south, longitude
146 deg 25 min east of Greenwich.
In running along shore, we cast many an anxious eye towards the land,
on which so much of our future destiny depended. Our distance, joined to
the haziness of the atmosphere, prevented us, however, from being able
to discover much. With our best glasses we could see nothing but hills
of a moderate height, cloathed with trees, to which some little patches
of white sandstone gave the appearance of being covered with snow.
Many fires were observed on the hills in the evening.
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