Coepang Bay.'] 
TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
253 
fathoms did not reach the bottom ; and at four o'clock the anchor 180S - 
March. 
was let go in 17 fathoms, muddy ground, half a mile from the shore, Thurs. 31 . 
with the Rag staff of Fort Concordia bearing S. S. E. 
I sent the second lieutenant to present my respects to the 
Dutch governor, and inform him of our arrival and wants, with an 
offer of saluting the fort provided an equal number of guns should 
be returned; and the offer being accepted, mutual salutes of thirteen 
guns passed, and the same evening we received a boat load of re- 
freshments. Next dav, I went with three officers and gentlemen to April, 
wait upon Mynheer Giesler, the governor, who sent the commandant luilJUy l * 
of the fort and surgeon of the colony to receive us at the water side. 
The governor did not speak English, nor I any Dutch ; and our 
communications would have been embarrassed but for the presence 
of captain Johnson, commander of the Dutch brig, who interpreted 
with much polite attention. 
Coepang is dependant on Batavia for a variety of articles, and 
amongst others, for arrack, rice, sugar, &c. Mr. Johnson had ar- 
rived not long before with the annual supply, yet I found some diffi- 
culty in obtaining from the governor the comparatively small quan- 
tities of which we stood in need; and I had no resource but in his 
kindness, for there were no merchants in Coepang, nor any other 
who would receive bills in payment. Having made an agreement 
for the provisions, I requested permission for our botanists and 
painters to range the country, which was readily granted ; with a 
caution not to extend their walks far from the town, as they might 
be there liable to insults from the natives, over whom the gover- 
nor had no power. 
We were occupied nearly a week in completing our water, 
which was brought on board in Malay boats, and in obtaining and 
stowing away the provisions. The governor, with captain Johnson Sunday 3. 
and two other gentlemen were entertained on board the Investigator, 
and received under a salute; and the day before we proposed to sail, Thursday 7 . 
I went with some of my principal officers and gentlemen to dine 
