IOR/L/MAR/B/572A

Journal of the Boscawen, kept by the ship's Captain, Benjamin Braund. The journal covers the ship's voyage to Bombay [Mumbai], Gombroon [Bandar Abbas], and Mocha [al-Mukha] (dates are those of arrival): 5 February 1749, Blackwall, London; 5 July 1749, Joanna Island [Anjouan, Comoros]; 2 August 1749, Bombay; 26 September 1749, Surat; 17 November 1749, Gombroon; 23 December 1749, Bombay; 12 February 1750, Mangulore [Mangaluru]; 17 February 1750, Tillecherry [Thalassery]; 20 March 1750, Socatra [Soqotra]; 29 March 1750, Mocha; 27 August 1750, Bombay; 16 January 1751, Table Bay; 17 February 1751, St Helena; 10 June 1751, Blackwall.

At the front of the journal is the inscription 'This is my original journal, B. Braund' (folio 4).

The journal begins with daily entries of notes on the preparation and loading of the ship at Blackwall Shipyard, 28 August 1748-5 February 1749 (folios 5-12). These notes include remarks on the weather and other ships in the vicinity.

The main body of the journal is a log book containing daily entries in seven columns: H [Hour], K [Knots], F [Fathoms], Courses, Winds, Weather, and a final column containing the date, some remarks, and navigational data. The remarks in the final column include further observations of weather and currents, sightings of land or other vessels, notes on the condition and maintenance of the ship, employment of the crew, and other miscellaneous information. When the ship is at anchor the entries consist of remarks only. Each entry also includes the distance travelled that day (in miles).