Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/408

345 before we were so annoyed by their numbers as had been the case during. the last voyage.

Our crew, after they had returned the stores and fitted the standing rigging, were paid their wagoe; when, with only two exceptions, they were at their own wish discharged, and it was some time before a new crew was collected. Whilst we were repairing the defects, H. M. store-ship Dromedary arrived from England, and brought us a selection of stores, for the want of which we should otherwise have been detained many months.

By this ship orders were received from the Admiralty to rig the cutter with rope manufactured from the New Zealand hemp (phormisum tenax), but there was a considerable difficulty in procuring enough even for a boom-sheet. This specimen was prepared by a rope-maker of the colony, and the result of the trial has fully justified the good opinion previously formed of its valuable qualities.

In my communication to the Admiralty in June, 1815, from Timor, I had mentioned the necessity of a medical man being attached to the vessel; and upon my last return I found one had arrived with an appointment to the Mermaid; but, to my great mortification, he was unable to join, from being afflicted with mental derangement, which