"A.: Two of these gentlemen have remained in Port Jackson to repair on board of the ship Captain Flinders expected to obtain in England,* and the rest have proceeded on to China.[1]
"D.: What reason induced Captain Flinders to chase a boat in sight of the island?
"A.: Being never to this island, he was not acquainted with the harbour. Seeing a French vessel he chased her[2] for the only purpose of obtaining a pilot, and seeing her entering a bay he followed her.
"D.: What reason had he to make the land to leewards, the different directories pointing out the contrary route to anchor in the harbour.
"A.: He came to windwards, but the wind shifting contrary he took to leewards and perceiving said vessel he followed her and anchored in the same bay. He has no chart of the island.
"D.: Why has he hoisted cartel colours?
"A.: He answers that it is the custom, since Captain Baudin coming to Port Jackson hoisted the colours of both nations.
"D.: Was he informed of the war?
"A.: No.
"D.: Has he met with any ship either at sea or in the different ports where he put in?
"A.: He met one ship only, by the 6 or 7 degrees to the east of the Isle of France. He did not speak her,
- ↑ "Pour s'embarquer sur le vaisseau que le Cap. Flinders a espoir d'obtenir en Angleterre," in the French. That is to say, Brown and Bauer remained behind till Flinders came out again with another ship.
- ↑ It is singular that Flinders did not take exception to this word "chased" in the translation when he signed it. The French version of his statement is correct: "il forca de voile, non pour luy appuyer chasse mais pour luy demander un pilote." The German translator boggled between the French and the English.
