Nov. 9, 1857.] NORTH AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. 
15 
On the 26th we had completed our water, and leaving a state- 
ment of our visit at the foot of Flinders’ tree, on which the name 
of the Investigator is still legible, we commenced our homeward 
voyage on the 27th. 
I was directed by Mr. Gregory’s letters to call at Port Curtis and . 
Moreton Bay, on the E. coast, and apprise the Government authorities 
there of his situation ; but the time fixed for my departure having 
been so long past, I thought the probability of my being able to do 
him any service very small in comparison with the risk to which the 
vessel and party would be exposed, should we attempt the dangerous 
and intricate navigation of Torres Strait and the Inner Passage 
against the constant S.E. wind and lee current always experienced 
there. 
One of our largest water casks having been gnawed through by 
rats, 400 gallons of water were lost. This rendered it necessary to 
shoot the horses and throw them overboard. They could not have 
been landed at the Albert without great risk and an expenditure of 
at least two days for each horse, and on Sweers Island there was 
no surface water for them to drink. Besides this, as there were no 
mares, no good purpose could have been answered. I had a pair 
of goats which I intended to leave, but the female unfortunately 
died. I planted cocoa-nuts in a variety of places on Sweers Island. 
We experienced light variable winds, mostly from the E., till 
the 19th of December, when we reached Coepang, and learned that 
the Torch had been there and passed on to Surabaya shortly after 
our first visit. The former resident, T. Van Capellen, had been 
succeeded by a gentleman from the Cape of Good Hope named 
Fraenkel, who treated us with great kindness during our stay. 
On the 27th, our supply of water having been filled and the 
vessel well furnished with live stock and vegetables, we sailed 
from Coepang, but a strong gale from the N.W. obliged us to 
put back to Pulo Borong, a small island in the same bay, where 
the Government cruizer is laid for security during the N.W. mon- 
soon. 
On the 30tli we again put to sea, but meeting with strong westerly 
gales did not weather the N.W. Cape till January 30th ; and sub- 
sequently meeting strong S.E. and S. winds had to stretch very far to 
the W. 
Our allowance of water had been reduced early in the voyage, a 
great quantity being consumed by the live stock, and on the 12th of 
February we were glad to meet an American whaler, the Mechanic 
of Newport, the captain of which kindly filled four casks for us, 
and finding a westerly wind in about 39° S., we were in hope of 
