Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 2.djvu/21

 4 SURVEY'OF ?HE INTER?ROPICAL �'lssl. Ater experiencing many tedious and unex- pect. delays in equipping the Bathurst, not- .withstanding our wants were few, and the greater part of our repairs were effected by our own people, we were not completed for sea until the M,y 0..26th of May, when we. sailed from Port Jkson upon our fourth and last voyage to' the ,north coast, accompanied by the merchant-ship Dick .(the same vessel.in .which. we had originally embarked from England): .she was bound to Ba- tavia, and.being ready for sailing at the time of our departt, requested.permission to accom- pony us through Torres Strait, which, since it would rather prove an assistance to us than cause any delay in our proceedings,. was ac- ceded to on my part with much satisfaction. In the mean time the Mermaid, our late vessel, had been thoroughly repaired, fresh fastened with copper spikes, and fitted out; and, before we sailed, had been sent to sea to carry the first establishment to Port Macquarie, on which service she had been wrecked. She was, how- ever, afterwards got off the rocks and repaired, and is now a very serviceable vessel in the colony. Boongaxee, the native who had formerly ac- companied us, volunteered his services whilst

�