Log of the Whaler Lady Njoragh

They weren't explorers - they were just trying to get themselves un-lost

The discovery of the continent of Tarusia turned out to be vital for the peoples of the north western provinces of The Marivan Empire . Alrthough Orris was the first permanent settlement of those people on that continent, the first exploration known was that of the crew of the Lady Njoragh sailing from the port of Stressell in County Murragh.
This article looks at the impact of the log of that voyage kept by the helmsman Ullo Odragh . Although only a small part of it survives to the present it is clear, from other existing records, that copies of the log were used by other explorers and settlers.

Grandpa told me a few things that he'd "not got round to including", but I'm sure he knew more.

— Ardo Ogragh

The surviving fragments now held at Fenton by Ed Andrew

Caution

Copies of the log were made by Ullo and his family and used by other explorers, spreading by second-hand sales and samizdat. It was suspected that Ullo suppressed some details from the log when he made copies available to others.

His generosity in providing copies at cost was widely commented on but these copies were remarked to be shorter than the original. Ullo and his family certainly seemed to have more details of the northern coast of Tarusia than those who travelled with copies. Because the surviving fragment is still owned by Ullo’s descendants it is generally agreed to be the original, or at least a full and complete copy of that part.

The surviving fragments are recognised as one of the treasures of House Odragh at Fenton in the Moran Duchy by Ed Andrew

The block of text at the bottom of the first page of the second fragment is one that has, to date, defied all attempts to understand it. Some say that it contains the key to House Odragh's rise from the helmsman's post to a leading house in Stressell before the migration.

History of the Document

Written 218 years before the founding of the Moran Duchy it remained under the control of Ullo and his descendants. With the exception of the two fragments at Fenton it is only known by quotations and indirect references. The perils of time have, alas, affected this manuscript as so many others.

It is believed that the whole of the log came to Fenton at around the time of the founding of the Moran Duchy as Merrick of Odragh was one of Ullo's descendants and one of the Younger Sons who established the Duchy (see Annals of the Duchy - Chapter 2).

The Great Fire of Fenton in Duchy Year 200 is believed to have caused the loss of most of the log and the damage to the surviving fragments, for the town house of House Odragh was one of the buildings lost to that conflagration.

The pattern of burning suggests that the fragments were together at this point but whether they were separated from the remainder of the text before or after is not known, for the records of the House's archives were completely lost during the fire.

Purpose

This document was Ullo's record of the voyage. In part it was a personal diary, in part to help him answer to the Emperor's Portmaster on the ship's return to Stressell. Following the Edict of 14 Dr'Alluth the helmsman of any ship sailing from the empire was responsible for reporting its course and landfalls on the ship's return so any helmsman setting out on a voyage expected to last more than a month would prefer the rigours of recording a log on heaving seas to the loss of his right arm on not being able to render a satisfactory account on return.

Read the Document

Log of the Whaler Lady Njoragh

Fragment 1 - in which the Lady Njoragh makes landfall on Tarusia.

... after the recen(t) ...seas are quietening now b(ut) we have been blown far to the south east by the last few days storms. During a clear period late in the third watch Gorrach, who was at the mast head, said that he saw mountains on the horizon though this would be far from the direction of land.

Day 28 from Stressell
Visibility poor but the seas continue to lessen and the wind blows from the west. In the morning it was clear that we were approaching land from the birds that we sighted. Around mid-day the wind veered round to the southwest and late in the afternoon we sighted mountains to the north and a forested coastline to the east. If the skies clear I shall be able to take a sighting to understand how far south we have come but how far west is another matter.
Estimated run for the day 25 leagues east, no land fall.

Day 29 from Stressell
Able to take a sighting from the beach at noon - we have come south by some hundred leagues, maybe a little less. We made landfall late in the morning on a coast thick with trees that would make any shipwright full of envy. We beached the boat on the afternoon tide and will spend tomorrow making good the storm damage. The coast seems to be deserted of human life so we will enjoy a night on land, hot food and set a watch for our safety.

(D)ay 30 from Stressell
Minor repairs and re-watering were completed today. This has left us short of rope and tar but as long as we have no more storms like that one we should be all right. After much debate we agreed to work north along the coast until the wind is favourable for a run home. If the Lady is willing and the weather fair we may try our luck with the whales if they are still to be found.
No run for the day today and yesterday's was about 4 leagues eastward making landfall in uninhabited lands.

Day 31 from Stressell
We refloated on the morning tide and made our way north of west. A slow day on the oars for the wind is still in the west and we have not the handling to sail that close to it. Fortunately the current was with us and we made progress.
Run for the day around 10 leagues north of west.

Day 32 from Stressell
Wind now from the south east so we were able to rest the oars a little. The range of mountains that we saw seems quite narrow at the coast - perhaps 10 leagues, and to mark a change in the land for to the north of them the forests are absent - trees yes, but not the standing keels that we beached under a few days ago.
Estimated run for the day 15 leagues westerly. Made land fall at afternoon high tide to avoid going backwards. Coast here...

Fragment 2 - In which the calving grounds of the whales are found

(da)y (5)0 from Stress(ell)
A fifth day of steady westerlies as we ... along the (c)oast. They are the humpnoses we were following - or at least more of them on a similar course. So despite our detour we seem to have caught up with them again for they are moving slower than when they pass our coast. Run for the day estimated 20 leagues north east, no landfall and the coast remains half a league off our beam.

Day 51 from Stressell
This day we rounded a headland and entered a bay which looks to be the calving ground for some of the whales. This would explain their slowing and I suspect they make best speed along our coast to avoid our attentions. These seas could be most profitably exploited, at least for a few years. Run for the day 10 leagues east of south. Land fall 2 hours before dusk at a river mouth. Signs of temporary encampments but no inhabitants to be seen.

Day 52 from Stressell
Water casks refilled and some of our catch salted for the return journey. No travel this day. Inhabitants of the area
TFESENMPWUELELHEMCIB
LLLANEGEOIRTTENSLEOS
UARMDGOUKTNBLTEUAIRR
UCHFNTSHHTPWOEWNETEO
TREESEAHERRIEPOTIRSF
DNEOIASSWEOMELOFETLA
NUSRTTHAKORENSTWDANK
HEKIOERTTHIEOLRLERFE

... seen at a ... similar to us but as they and w(e) kept our distance I can say nothing of their clothing, language o(r) habits.

Day 53 from Stressell
We sailed at Sunrise and followed the coast north, finding that the bay we entered 2 days ago is more the arm of a larger bay and well stocked with whales and fish throughout. Good seas for working if the coast is safe enough to use for processing and preserving the catch. The wind has continued to veer round and has enough westerly to hope for a swift run to home if it lasts.
We beached for the night on a headland where the coast runs on to the east. Seas to explore next year for us or others.
Day's run 25 leagues west of north, landfall in the late afternoon on a deserted shore. No signs of inhabitants.

Day 54 from Stressell
With the wind still from the west we topped off the water and will today start our return trying to cut across the bays and follow a constant course to our home port. Set sail mid-morning and a run for the day of 40 leagues westerly.
More and larger whales seen in the open seas - some are humpnose bulls but others are unfamiliar and seem to be hunting the young of the humpnoses.
Wind fair and no coast near we set a night watch and sailed on.

Day 55 from Stressell
Good progress overnight. As we do not know how far to ...

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Voyage of the Lady Njoragh

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On its Compilation
Ullo's original record would have been made on wax coated wooden tablets and transcribed to paper during calm periods, or more likely when the boat was pulled up onto a beach to process the catch. This ensured that that it would remain safe and dry, though the record includes prolonged periods of storms and high seas when none would have been able to use pen and ink in a ship like the Lady Njoragh.

Ullo’s log - its a must have for the north coast but I reckon he left out some of the best whaling grounds from the copies he let out. Sly old fox, keeping the best bits quiet.

— Skipper Andrach, whaler “Aunt Myra”

Background

The Lady Njoragh was a fishing and whaling ship that plied the northern coast of Marivar. While following the seasonal migration of humpnosed whales she was blown off course and into uncharted seas. After the storms cleared she made landfall in previously unknown lands. Adverse winds pinned her to the coast for several weeks during which she explored the coast heading north to reach her home latitudes and then east catching up with the whales and finding their calving grounds. As the the seasons started to change she returned home with tales of this land and the longer distance whaling operations.

The Lady Njoragh in the storm that blew her into the navigational history books.
From the British Library Flickr stream. Image taken from page 61 of 'The eventful voyage of H.M. Discovery Ship “Resolute” to the Arctic Regions in search of Sir J. Franklin. Image cropped from online version.

Legacy

Whilst it is highly probable that Tarusia had previously been found by mariners from the Empire, Ullo's account is the first documented evidence of Tarusia's existence in the knowledge of the Empire. Although the Empire tried to limit settlement of Tarusia in order to keep close control of its people it seems likely that Ullo's record was the trigger not just for the seasonal whale and fishing trade conducted by the mariners of Murragh on the north coast of Tarusia but also the wider exploration of Tarusia, the establishment of Orris and, indeed the whole Morivan settlement of Tarusia when some decades later the Empire found itself coming under pressure from the east.