COASTS OP AUSTRALIA. 
211 
as we wanted both wood and water, which we I822. 
had found no opportunity of obtaining here on Feb. is. 
account of the tempestuous state of the weather, 
it was purposed we should go to Port George the 
Fourth, which place would afford both security 
for the vessel and facility for procuring these ar- 
ticles. This delay might also be made service- 
able, by employing a part of the crew at the 
same time in the boats in examining the islands 
in Rogers Strait, and tracing the continuation, 
of the main land behind the islands that form 
the south-east coast of Camden Bay, of which 
we knew nothing. After doing this I hoped 
to be able ' to continue the examination of the 
deep bay behind Montgomery’s Islands, and 
connect that part with the gulf or strait behind 
the Buccaneer’s Archipelago in which we now 
were ; but our loss of anchors made all this very 
dangerous, and, indeed, nothing could be done 
without very fine weather, of which there was 
at present, unfortunately, no appearance. 
But a greater and more serious hindrance, 
was, that our provisions were very much re- 
duced in quantity, and that we had not more 
than enough to last, upon a full allowance, for 
the voyage to Port Jackson ; the hope, however, 
of procuring more information of this part of 
the coast was so inviting, that I did not despair 
p 2 
