month, the Mermaid had reached Cape Londonderry, a part of the coast which, if we except a few of the islands that front it, Mons. Baudin did not see.
“We should, therefore,” continues Lieutenant King, “have commenced its examination with more pleasure had we been in a state better fitted for the purpose; but we were rapidly consuming our stock of water, without any prospect of finding a supply at this season; and this, added to the loss of our anchors, considerably lessened the satisfaction we should otherwise have felt in viewing the prospect before us.”
“In the space between Cape Bougainville and Cape Voltaire, which he has named the Admiralty Gulf, Lieutenant King determined the positions of at least forty islands or islets. The plan given by Mons. Freycinet of this Archipelago is so defective, that many of his islands could not be recognized.
On the 16th Oct., Lieutenant King again directed his course for Timor, but owing to contrary winds and unfavorable weather, he did not reach Coupang before the 1st of November. On the 12th Jan. 1820, we find him returning to Port Jackson, after an absence of thirty-five weeks and four days.
“The result of our proceedings during this voyage,” says he, “has been the survey of 540 miles of the northern coast, in addition to the 500 that were previously examined. Besides which we had made a running survey of that portion of the intertropical part of the east coast, that is situated between the Percy Isles and Torres Strait, a distance of 900 miles, the detailed survey of which had never before been made; for Captain Cook merely examined it in a cursory manner as he passed up the coast. The opportunity, therefore, was not lost of making such observations oh our voyage as enabled me to present to the public a route towards Torres Strait infinitely preferable on every account to the dangerous navigation without the reefs, which has hitherto been chiefly used.”
“On receiving their wages, the whole of the Mermaid’s crew, with only two exceptions, requested to be discharged; and the middle of June had nearly arrived before she could be re-manned. Mr. James Hunter, surgeon, who had arrived at Port Jackson in charge of convicts, then volunteered his services, which were gladly accepted, and he was accordingly attached to the cutter’s establishment. On the 22d of that
