4 
SURVEY OP THE INTERTROPICAL 
1821. After experiencing many tedious and unex- 
pected delays in equipping the Bathurst, not- 
withstanding our wants were few, and the greater 
part of our repairs were effected by our own 
people, we were not completed for sea until the 
May 26 . 26 th of May, when we sailed from Port Jackson 
upon our fourth and last voyage to the north 
coast, accompanied by the merchant-ship Dick 
(the same vessel in which we had originally 
embarked from England): she was bound to Ba- 
tavia, and being ready for sailing at the time 
of our departure, requested permission to accom- 
pany us through Torres Strait, which, since it 
would rather prove an assistance to us than 
cause any delay in our proceedings, was ac- 
ceded to on my part with much satisfaction. In 
the mean time the Mermaid, our late vessel, 
had been thoroughly repaired, fresh fastened 
with copper spikes, and fitted out; and, before 
we sailed, had been sent to sea to carry the 
first establishment to Port Macquarie, on which 
service she had been wrecked. She was, how- 
ever, afterwards got off the rocks and repaired, 
and is now a very serviceable vessel in the 
colony. 
Boongaree, the native who had formerly ac- 
companied us, volunteered his services whilst 
