with Lieutenant Johnson, to pitch tents. They took with them the equipage, and live stock.
[Ships get under-way and anchor again.]
October 15.—Ocean at anchor, one mile distance. Employed unloading stores. Where we are, we can see the Camp, distance from us four and a half miles. Launch fitting for surveying the harbour.
October 16.—Sent the launch and cutter away with the First Lieutenant, Mr. Tuckey, attended by two Civil Officers, Messrs. Harris and Collins, and Mr. Gammon, in a six-oar cutter victualled for six days, to survey the Bay, from the Camp to the Northward, to find if possible a more eligible situation for forming a settlement. Employed landing baggage, and convicts.
[The intervening days, landing stores.]
October 21.—Launch and cutter returned from having surveyed the harbour. At the N.W. point of the Bay, they discovered a straight passage apparently to the sea, which Lieut. Tuckey intended to have explored, but was driven by a strong current to the Southward during the night, and at daylight finding himself near the ship he came on board. He reported having landed at several places, and found the soil bad, the trees very small, and but little water.
October 22.—Lieutenant Tuckey, Mr. Gammon, Mr. Collins, and Mr. Harris, found a fresh water river near the N.E. point of the Bay, where they pitched their tent for the night.
[Messrs. Tuckey and Harris thus report—]
At 8 a.m., October 23rd, observed three natives, who approached them. Mr. Tuckey gave them fish, bread, and many presents, they being much pleased and very friendly. At ten Mr. Collins and Lieutenant Tuckey went across the Bay, about five or six miles, with a boat's crew, leaving Mr. Harris and Mr. Gammon, with two men, in charge of the tent, provisions, &c., and to make observations on shore. The three natives seeing Mr. Tuckey go away, went away also. Early in the afternoon they returned, and a great many other natives with them. At
