56 
A VOYAGE TO 
[South Coast. 
1801. of sheet copper, bearing this inscription: " August 27, 1800. Chr. 
December* • 
Thursdayio. " 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 
Friday ii. a convenient distance. I therefore sent him, next morning, 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 Van- 
couver 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 Har- 
Saturday 12. bour, a wooding party was sent next morning, 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 
