2006-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2006
Manuscript log book for the Stringer Galley, 70p. folio, summer 1708, with many pages headed "Stringer Galley Isaac Pyke Commande." with content on the ships voyage from Java Head to Mauritius, an island near Madagascar. The Stringer Galley was in service with the East India Company from 1706 to 1715. Isaac Pyke commander of this ship was also governor of Saint Helena, which is off the coast of Africa in the South Atlantic, from 1714-1719 and again from 1731 to 1738. Some excerpts read: "...[6/8/1708] This morning we saw several mango voludas about ye ship, by wch we judge our selves not far from the Coast...[6/9/1708]A hard storm last night...with thick squales of rain and hail this morning found the ship complain abaft in such manner as ye Carpender believed some plank to be started. We tended her with ye pumps and kept her free with one, wind and sea raging from ye westward as much as wou'd make a deaf man bless his imperfection...This afternoon having beat 15 days for the Cape with little or no success, the Captn calld a consolation of Officer's. We gave him our opinion's separately in writing, all agreeing to beat no longer but bear away...[6/21/1708] The sea is very dirty and full of nastyness wch it has contracted with these 4 times 24 hours of calm weather. Our good fortune is mostly seen in nothing for contrary storms forbad our doubling the Cape, and now that we are in quest of another port, we are affected with the other extreme (viz) Calm, but the moon being in her full this following midnight gives us to expect wind...[6/24/1708] This afternoon the SW swell is come forward to SE wch I believe signifies our being near ye SE trade. We have a great many albatrosses about the ship more than I have ever see at one. I am doubtful ye reason unless our being between St. John de lisboa ye Dutch discovery may have brought us among them...[7/6/1708] Ye weather very squaley with rain this morning the wind varyd forward to E and so fresh as put us past our topsail. So bore to ye Southward looking well out for ye land but ye weather so thick as that we see no signs of it save large knots of Rock weeds of a yellowish colour...There are several dolphins about ye ship one of which we caught...[7/19/1708] We hauld up to ye Southward and found ye ship to sagg fast in shore tho' not nearer 5 leagues wch is as near as a ship unacquainted ought to come on ye weather side of ye Island, especially in ye winter season, because a strong SE wind a great sea and a NW currt. all sett's you wholly on shore, and to land a boat to make discovery's, she must go out of sight of ye ship, with little probability of getting on board again...Close weather most part of ye day. We mounted 14 guns & bent all our Cables and unslowed our anchor's...[7/20/1708] We made sail and at nine was thwart of Hang Rock having no ground with hand line we saild between ye foresaid Island Hang Rock and ye Main Island - as past Carpender's Bay we saw a ship, she fired a gun and showd English couloirs...[7/23/1708]This day got all our cask out and unbent ye sails and sent em on shore to ye Tomb and put em in one of ye planter's houses several of wch they have built on ys NW side of ye Island, for ye conveniency of having their goods near ye water side, when they shall be calld for by ye Dutch Shipping wch they expect every day and in order theirto kild all their cattle...[7/27/1708] Today got 2 long boats load of water on board. We are removing our Tea between decks wch we though might be damaged but it rises very well...[7/28/1708] This day got 2 boat's more of water we had two hand's from on board ye Blenheim to help mend our sails besides 2 of our own people. We keep all hands employd. Some riging, some chaulking, some wooding, some watering some rummaging and ye rest pleasuring...[8/17/1708] Fresh winds ye day at ESE and ENE. Ye Governour feasted ye English..." Bound in early 20th century cloth boards with morocco label and gilt title. Slight wear and damp staining but overall about VG.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.