July

July 6.
The winds continue very unfavourable are obliged to run up as high as Forty-Five Degrees South Latitude. — In the Evening the wind became more favourable and we lay up a good course. — Fell in about these days again with the Duke of Montrose East Indiaman bound for Bombay.

July 13.
Sunday. Cross the Tropick [sic] of Capricorn; (Latd. 23° 30' South) Sailing through the Mosambique [sic] Channel formed by the Island of Madagascar and the Coast of Africa. — Fell in with the Raymond Indiaman Commanded by Capt. Smedley with part of the 75th. Regiment on board, bound for Bombay; – Capt. Smedley with his Surgeon, Lieut. Mackenzie, and Ensign Mc.Crea came on board of the Dublin off Madagascar and spent the Day with us – they had just come out of Madagascar, where they had put into for a supply of Fresh Provisions, which that Island Produces in great abundance – they entertained us with many Particulars relating to the Natives of the Island.

July 14.
Continued to keep company with the Raymond for some Days – we have a very fine view of the Island of Madagascar early this morning, and continue sailing in sight of it all day. — Madagascar is the largest of all the African Islands it being near One Thousand Miles in length from North to South – it is solely Inhabited by Natives, not being subject to any European Power; – Some of our People went this day to dine on board the Raymond and returned in the Evening; a Fine Favorable wind and very pleasant weather wafting us through the Mosambique [sic] Channel.

July 18.
— Pass the Island of Mayotta and see it this Evening at a great distance.

July 19.
Saturday. Sail past the Island of Juanna the largest of the Comora Islands, leaving it on our left; – being very near it we had a very fine view of it at Day break; spoke the Lord Macartney East Indiaman commanded by Capt. Hay bound for Bengal off Juanna. — Parted company with the Raymond who along with the Lord Macartney went into Juanna. —

July 24.
Crossed the Line or Equator once more, in Fifty Degrees East Longitude from London. — we continue to be merry and happy one with another; – our time is spent every day much in the same manner as already related; – we want for nothing, being well supplied with every thing – and the whole of our society are chearful, [sic] pleased and happy in their situation; – no incident of any interesting nature that is not already mentioned, has occurred worth narrating. — I have omitted one thing only, which is, that the Revd. Mr. Lofty favors us now and then with Prayers and a Sermon on a Sunday, upon which occasion the Soldiers and the whole Ship's Company assemble on the Quarter Deck. — Our voyage now draws to a short Period — the wind is quite fair, which occasions a vast deal of very disagreeable Rolling and unpleasant motion – the Dead Lights are obliged, in general, to be kept in on account of our going right before the wind for fear of being Pooped, as there is a very high and heavy Sea running.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Journal No. 1: 15 December 1787 - 24 March 1792.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A768 pp.107-111. [Microfilm Reel CY299 Frames #59-61].