Towards Mauritius .] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 351 
starbord side, it is doubtful whether the schooner could have been kept 1 80; \- 
December. 
above water. Sunday 4. 
This state of things made it necessary to take into serious con- 
sideration the propriety of attempting the passage round the Cape of 
Good Hope, without first having the vessel caulked and the pumps 
fresh bored and fitted. Should a western wind meet the current setting 
round the Cape, and it was to be expected, there would be much 
more sea running than we had yet encountered ; and with a fresh 
wind on the starbord side, which might probably occur, the remain- 
ing pump would not touch the water until the hold was half full ; there 
was moreover cause to fear, that it also would soon become ineffec- 
tive from constant use. After turning these circumstances over in 
my mind for a day or two, and considering what else might be urged 
both for and against the measure, I determined to put in at Mauritius ; 
and on the 6’th in the evening, altered the course half a point for that Tuesday 6 . 
island, to the satisfaction of the people. 
In the orders from governor King, the ports to be touched at 
on the way to England were left to my own choice; but when Mau- 
ritius had been mentioned amongst others in conversation, the 
governor had objected to it, both on account of the hurricanes in 
that neighbourhood, and from not wishing to encourage a communi- 
cation between a French colony and a settlement composed as is that 
of Port Jackson. It was these considerations which had made me 
hesitate to take the step, though the necessity for it was pressing ; 
and as, in the case of accident happening to the schooner, I might be 
called to answer before a court martial for going in opposition to the 
wish of a superior officer, it seemed proper to state in my journal all 
the reasons which had any influence on my decision. This journal 
is not in my possession ; but notes of the statement were made whilst 
the recollection of it was strong, and the following was the substance 
and not far from the words. 
i. The necessity of caulking the schooner and refitting the 
pumps before attempting to double the Cape, were stated nearly as 
