Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 2.djvu/19

 SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL Ism. spars. Upon stripping the copper off the bottom, Dg. 6. the tide flowed into her, and proved that to the copper sheat.hng alone we were indebted for our sfe return. The iron spikes that fastened her 'were entirely decayed, and a cousideruble repair was recommended by the surveying offi- cers. Upon my communicating the result of their report to His F_,xcollancy, Governor Maequarie, he agreed with me in thinking that, as her re- pairs would take up so much time, it would be better to purelmse another vessel, and as a brig was then in the harbour, that appeared to be every wy suited for my purpose, she was ex- amined by my order by Mr. Mart, the Dmme- dary's carpenter, who reported so favourably of her, that, by the governor's permission, she was purchased and fitted for the voyage. She was built of teak, of one hundred and seventy tons burden, and had lately received a very consi- derable repair at Calcutta; so that, excepting a few trifling defects and alterations, she was quite fit for sea. Her name was ]tered at the sug- gestion of Governor Macquarie to that of the , Bathurst." By this change we gained a great addition to our comforts; and, besides increasing the num- ber of our crew, were much better off in regard to boats; for we now possessed a long-boat,

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