TRANSCRIPTION
FROM FOUR O'CLOCK onwards on the morning of 12 Pluviôse [1 February], we prepared to set sail as soon as the breeze should spring up, as it had usually done while we were at this anchorage. We began by taking our three boats aboard, and then, with the ship, raised our small bower and hove short on the other anchor. Next the crew were given breakfast, after which, having hoisted our topsails, we weighed anchor and proceeded on our way, leaving the Casuarina to her good fortune, as she had chosen to leave us to ours.
I intended to go and sight some land that the look-out men had reported to the West of Ile Borda *, so I headed West and South as soon as I was out of the bay we had anchored in, and for the third time sailed along the whole of this island's North coast, seeing once more all the points that have helped us in the drawing up of the chart, which appears to me to leave nothing to be desired.
In the afternoon the winds were South variable to South-South-East, but the breeze was so stiff that we were obliged to take two reefs in the topsails and furl all our staysails. Although the wind was from on-shore, the sea was nevertheless rough and choppy.
At two o'clock we sighted the Casuarina running on the easterly leg. I expected that as soon as she saw us, she would go on the same tack as us and follow us. Consequently, when we were within range of each other, I furled the mainsail so that she should have less trouble in keeping up with us. But that disturbed her extremely little and she continued running East, and so rapidly, that by half past three she was out of sight. It is undoubtedly difficult to explain this manoeuvre on the part of Citizen Freycinet and he will surely tell us about it at our first meeting.
As I wanted to get out of the islands and rocks to the North of lle Borda, I continued on my way, preferring to wait for the Casuarina at the end of the island, rather than lose time chasing East again after her. It was not to be presumed that she would stay long on that leg - not, that is, if her intention was to rejoin us. However, I am far from believing this.
At eight o'clock, off the western end of the island, I shortened sail for overnight and remained within view of the coast. I kept the poop lantern alight so that the Casuarina should sight us, if it had pleased her not to go to the anchorage, or to any other place.
During the night the sky was dark and humid. We occasionally had some rain-squalls, but they were slight and did not last long. The breeze dropped completely and the winds varied from SouthSouth-East to North-East.
* This is the name that the expedition gave to Kangaroo Island.
