1801
December.
Thursday 10.
of sheet copper, bearing this inscription: "August 27, 1800. Chr. "Dixson—ship Elligood;" which solved the difficulty of the felled trees, and the disappearance of captain Vancouver's bottle. On digging in this place, I found that fresh water of a high colour, but well tasted, might be obtained; wood was abundant, and the depth of the entrance admitted of the ship being made fast to the shore; so that this was a situation adapted to our purpose of refitment, provided the ship could be got over the bar. This point I was desirous to ascertain in my way on board, but the strength of the wind prevented it.
The report of the master from Princess-Royal Harbour was, that water could be obtained at the north side by digging near the shore, at the foot of the highest hill; but that there was no wood at a convenient distance. I therefore sent him, next morning,Friday 11. to land the naturalists at the entrance of Oyster Harbour, and then to sound the bar; and not being satisfied with his report, that there was not so much as fourteen feet, which the ship drew, when captain Vancouver had marked seventeen, I went to the nearest head, with a theodolite and signal flags, to direct his movements. No more, however, than thirteen feet could now be found upon the shallowest part of the bar; and, consequently, the idea of refitting in Oyster Harbour was abandoned. The boat which brought off Mr. Brown and his party in the evening, collected a good quantity of oysters, and of the large fan muscles, from the shoals.
The wind continuing foul for going into Princess-Royal Harbour, a wooding party was sent next morning,Saturday 12. to a bight round the north side of the entrance; where the wood was found to split better than at some other places. Another party went to the same place with the launch, to haul the seine; but the wind coming round to the eastward, the boat was recalled, and a kedge anchor and hawser put into it. We then weighed, and ran into the harbour under the top sails; and at eleven, anchored in seventeen feet upon muddy ground, at one-third of a mile from the shore under the