nterpret
between Lieutenant Ball and the latter; and I beg here to remark,
that during this conversation, which was in the general's office,
we were not asked to sit down; indeed, had the general been
polite enough to have made the offer, there was not a second
chair in the room; so unusual a thing is it to be seated in the
general's presence, when talking to him on business.

After Lieutenant Ball had signified his business, and the
service he was sent on, a number of frivolous enquiries were made
respecting the setlement at New South Wales, and much
astonishment was expressed, that we came from that country and
could not tell _what became of the Bounty, Lieutenant Bligh's
Ship_.

No other answer could be got, than that the council were to be
requested to permit Lieutenant Ball to purchase whatever he
wanted, and to hire a vessel to carry what he might want to Port
Jackson: this being settled we took our leave. The Shebander drew
up a request, which Lieutenant Ball signed, and the next day it
was presented to the council, (at which the director-general
presided, on account of the general's indisposition) when every
thing was granted; but they refused to interfere in taking up a
vessel, or in purchasing provisions, saying, that those matters
were to be managed by Lieutenant Ball.

As every vessel here either belonged to the company, or were
too flimsy to go on such a voyage, it was for a short time
doubtful whether one could be procured: at length, the Shebander
hearing that a snow of 250 tons or upwards lay at a port called
-Samarre_, on the east side of Java, he offered her to
Lieutenant Ball; saying that he would purchase her and fit her
out completely, if Mr. Ball would contract with him to pay eighty
rix-dollars a ton for the voyage; the Shebander to take all
risques upon himself, with respect to the loss of the vessel. As
the necessity for a supply of provisions was very great, and as
there was no other vessel to be procured, Lieutenant Ball was
obliged to make the agreement, and the snow was sent for.
Provisions were easily purchased, and at a cheap rate: very
excellent beef and pork at six-pence per pound. Of flour, there
was little to be procured, as all the people here eat rice,
Europeans as well as natives.

Batavia has been so very well and so fully described in
Captain Cook's first voyage, that any attempt of mine to describe
this vast and splendid settlement may be deemed superfluous;
however, as