"A.: None.
"D.: What has been his motive for his coming at the Isle of France?
"A.: The want of water. His pumpers (sic) are bad, and his vessel is very leaky.
"D.: To what place does Captain Flinders intend to go to from this island?
"A.: Having no passport for the Dutch Government, he cannot put in the Cape, according to his wishes, and will be obliged to stop at St. Helena.
"D.: What can be the reason of his having none of his officiers, naturalis, or any of the other persons employed in said expedition?
"A.: Two of these gentlemen have remained in Port Jackson to repair on board of the ship Captain Flinders expected to obtain in England,* and the rest have proceeded on to China. (* "Pour s'embarquer sur le vaisseau que le Cap. Flinders a espoir d'obtenir en Angleterre," in the French. That is to say, Brown and Bauer remained behind till Flinders came out again with another ship.)
"D.: What reason induced Captain Flinders to chase a boat in sight of the island?
"A.: Being never to this island, he was not acquainted with the harbour. Seeing a French vessel he chased her* for the only purpose of obtaining a pilot, and seeing her entering a bay he followed her. (* It is singular that Flinders did not take exception to this word "chased" in the translation when he signed it. The French version of his statement is correct: "il forca de voile, NON POUR LUY APPUYER CHASSE mais pour luy demander un pilote." The German translator boggled between the French and the English.)
"D.: What reason had he to make the land to leewards, the different directories pointing out the contrary route to anchor in the harbour.