Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 2.djvu/246

 COA OF AUSTRALIA. a sucoession of h,vy westerly gales,' in which liras. the brig was occasionally much pressed; and it Oc. 6. was not until the 8th of November that we made Nov. s. Bald Island, which is to the eastward of King George's Sound. We were now much in need of a place to caulk the bends, as well as to repair some temporary damage to the rigging, and complete our wood and water. I therefore seized the opportunity of our being near the .sound, and, steering into it, anchored oil' the sandy .bay within Seal Island, and immediate- ly commenced operations. We were, however,. much delayed by hard westerly gales, which not only prevented the carpenter's caulking, but also delayed our watering, since the boat could not pull to the shore; but as the anchorage was well sheltered, we suffered no further inconveni- ence than the delay. A few days alr our arrival, we were sur. prised by the appearance of a strange vessel beating into the sound; she proved to be an American schooner on a sealing voyage, and was coming in for the purpose of careening and clean- ing the vessel's bottom in Oyster Harbour. The natives also made their appearance, and some of them being our old friends, immediately recog* nised .us. As there was no wood convenient to our an- VOL. IL Q

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