1792.
December.
our people in cutting it wherever it could be found. Water alſo was not very eaſily obtained, ſince it could only be had in ſmall quantities at a time, from a number of ſhallow wells dug by ourſelves. It was however extremely good, and might have been procured in any quantity with little labour, by ſinking wells of a proper conſtruction to a moderate depth ; notwithſtanding this, the Spaniards are content to take on board, for their common uſe at ſea, water of a very inferior quality, becauſe it is procured without any trouble. That which is drunk at the table of the officers is however very fine water, and is brought in carts from the river Carmelo. But to return ; theſe ſeveral employments prevented the failing of the Dædalus until the 29th, when ſhe departed with the cattle in very high condition.
Saturday 29.
On this occaſion Lieutenant James Hanſon received from me his orders to proceed to New South Wales ; to call at Hergeſt’s iſlands, in his way thither, for a ſupply of water and food for the cattle, and any refreſhments for the crew that could be procured: paſſing thence to the north of all the low iſlands, to proceed to Otaheite ; from Otaheite to New Zealand ; and from thence to port Jackſon ; where I was particularly anxious the Dædalus ſhould arrive as ſoon as poſſible, becauſe the cattle, ſheep, &c. in the event of their being preſerved, could not fail to be a very valuable acquiſition to that country. Beſide theſe, it was by no means improbable that Mr. Hanfon might be enabled to procure a conſiderable number of hogs and fowls, at the ſeveral iſlands he might touch at : theſe I alſo conceived would be highly acceptable at port Jackſon, and he had my direſtions to uſe his diſcretion in thus appropriating ſuch articles of traffic conſigned to me, as yet remained on board the Dædalus.
His viſit to Otaheite had another object beſide that of procuring refreſhments, which was, to receive on board twenty-one Engliſh ſeamen who had been caſt away in the ſhip Matilda, of London, on the 25th of february, 1792, on a ledge of rocks, not within ſight of any land, and ſaid to be ſituated in latitude 22° ſouth, and longitude 138° 30′ weft. After this unfortunate accident the crew returned in their boats to Otaheite ; from whence, ſix days before, they had departed in the ſhip. From Otaheite,
