On the 20th the crew and whole party were employed; yet they only succeeded in getting off 280 gallons for they were obliged to carry the water in small baricos to the boat, over slippery rocks and deep mud: and on the 21st, thinking it better to complete their water at Timor, they set sail.

This difficulty of watering only arose from the lowness of the tides (neap) and our ignorance of the country.

Subsequently we found no difficulty in procuring it; indeed no country in the world is better watered than this portion of Australia.
Since the sailing of the Lynher the party had been actively engaged in building a shed for the stores.

This labour was still continued, after my arrival, and completed on Christmas eve.
CHRISTMAS DINNER.
On Christmas Day we all dined together in a little booth made of boughs, which we dressed up as gaily as we could.

I could not but feel considerable pleasure in seeing the happy countenances of the men ranged round the rough plank that formed our table.