4 SURVEY'OF ?HE INTER?ROPICAL? �'lssl. At?er experiencing many tedious and unex- pect?. 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 M,y ?0..26th of May, when we. sailed from Port J?kson 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 departt?, requested.permission to accom- pony 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. Boongaxee, the native who had formerly ac- companied us, volunteered his services whilst
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