nor had judged it necessary
to send the _Porpoise_ to the island of Otaheite, for the purpose of
salting pork for the use of the colony: and as it was absolutely
necessary to send thither a quantity of salt for this purpose (an article
which the colony could not furnish), he fortunately was enabled to
purchase about fifteen tons of salt from the master of a whaler which put
in there from one of the Cape de Verd islands. On this voyage the
_Porpoise_ sailed in the month of May 1801, and her commander,
Lieutenant Scott, was furnished, in addition to very ample instructions
for his guidance, with a letter from the governor to Pornarre, the king
of Otaheite, urging him to give Mr. Scott every protection and assistance
in the execution of the business on which he was sent to the island, and
recommending particularly to his care such of the missionaries as resided
in the place. It was pointed out to him how much this conduct would
ensure his majesty the favourable opinion of King George; and Mr. Scott
was provided with a quantity of such articles for barter as were likely
to please the eye as well as be useful to the people whom he might have
to deal with; among which were some red and yellow cloth, some tomahawks,
axes, knives, scissors, shirts, jackets, etc.: and, as nothing was more
likely to ensure success than a handsome present to his Majesty, a mantle
and some other articles of dress decorated with red feathers, together
with six muskets and some ammunition, were given to Mr. Scott to be
presented to the king.

Directions were also sent to the lieutenant-governor at Norfolk Island,
to salt a quantity of pork for the use of the principal settlement.

The governor had likewise entered into a contract with a merchant in
India, to freight a ship with cattle and rice, after the arrival of which
he was of opinion that further supplies of cattle might be unnecessary,
the stock in the country, independent of the wild herd, being very
considerable. That herd was grown very furious, and, having got among the
mountains to the westward, rendered any attempts to take them dangerous
and useless.

The _Lady Nelson_ brig had been in Bass Strait, and surveyed Western
port, where she found a very good harbour. She had also been, in company
with the _Francis_ (colonial schooner), to Hunter river, where they
took in between them 45 tons of coal, which were exchanged with the
master of the _Cornwallis_, for a quantity of nails and iron,