Dr George Bass's Ventures And Adventures.

Dusky Bay is in evidence amongst the earliest of the Sydney Records. In an MS. of the Record Office, George Bass, whose name is identified with the through pass between Victoria and Tasmania, writes one Captain Waterhouse, dated Sydney, January 3, 1803: —"In my letter from Sandwich Islands in May last, I told you we had been at Dusky Bay, in New Zealand; at least, I think so. I shall go to Dusky again this voyage for the purpose of picking up two anchors and breaking the iron fastenings out of an old Indianman that lies there deserted, with the intention of selling the former to the Spaniards. Of the little iron we took out that voyage, it was converted by our smith into axes, and we made a good thing out of it by selling them to the savages. Now, we shall be prepared for breaking her up." Again, on February 2, Bass writes from Port Jackson: —"I have written to you thrice from thence, since my arrival from the South Sea Islands. In a few hours I shall proceed again on another pork voyage, but it combines circumstances of a different nature also. From this place I go to New Zealand to pick up something more from the wreck of the old Endeavour in Dusky Bay, then visit some of the islands lying south of it, in search of seals and fish. The former, should they be found, are intended to furnish cargo for England immediately on my return from this trip. The fish are to answer a proposal I made Government to establish a fishery, on condition of receiving an exclusive privilege of the south part of New Zealand and of its neighbouring isles, which privileges is at once to be granted to me." A draft memorandum or communication, apparently addressed to the Governor, was unearthed from amongst the Customs Records. It is to a great extent illegible. So far as it could be deciphered, it went to show Bass's proposals were as follow: —"That he should have the exclusive right for seven years of that part of New Zealand lying south of a line drawn due east from Dusky Sound to the eastern coast, to about where Dunedin now stands; also Bounty, Antipodes, and Snares, together with ten leagues of the sea around each of these coasts." If he succeeded in establishing the industry he stipulated, he was to get an extension of 21 years. Then follow argumentive problems, seemingly put forward by Bass, in support of his application. "If I can draw up food from the sea," he writes, "in places which are now lying useless to the world, surely I am entitled to make an exclusive property of the fruits of my ingenuity, as much as the man who obtains letters patent." In a further communication from Bass to his friend Captain Waterhouse, he explains: —"The New Zealand fishery is not to be set in motion till after my return to England, when I mean to seize upon my dear Bess, bring her out here, and make a 'poissarde' of her, when she cannot fail to have plenty use for her tongue. We have, I assure you, great plans in our heads, but, like the basket of eggs, all depends on the success of the voyage I am now upon."

Bass's fisheries project came to naught. After visiting Dusky, and possessing himself of the ironwork and anchors, he proceeded in his ship, the Venus, to Spanish America. It was, in effect, a privateering expedition. Its terms were: "You buy my goods, or, otherwise, I open fire on your ports." It was page 175a time of war, and these were by no means uncommon stipulations. Arriving off the coast of Peru, the Venus entered the port of Callao, and opened negotiations with the inhabitants, who showed no disposition to trade. Thereupon Bass assumed the aggressive, which seemed to produce the desired effect. The corregidor, or chief magistrate, invited Bass to meet him and his Cabildo, or Council, to arrange terms. These were adjusted to the mutual satisfaction. That, however, was only a trap to get him and his ship's company into their power. They were accordingly seized, and thrown into prison. The brig was confiscated, and Bass and his officers condemned to perpetual servitude in the mines. They were made to work the azogue, or quicksilver deposits, at Guanca-velica. These mines were notorious for exuding poisonous vapours, and we can understand our adventurous Britons, sooner or later, succumbed to their fatal environments. At all events, they are not again heard of.

In a letter by Captain Cook to Captain Furneux, of the consort ship Adventure, dated July 15, 1772, the latter is instructed as follows:—It is recommended to you that while you are upon the southern parts of New Zealand to endeavour to procure specimens of the different stones you may find in the country, as an opinion has lately been stated that some of them contain minerals or metals.

Whereas scurvey grass, celery, and other vegetables, are to be found in most uncultivated countries, especially in New Zealand, and when boiled with wheat or oatmeal, with a proper quantity of portable broth, makes a very wholesome and nourishing diet, and has been found to be of great use against all scorbutic complaints, which the crews of his Majesty's sloops (Resolution and Adventure) must in some degree have contracted after so long a continuance at sea. You are therefore hereby required and directed, whenever vegetables are to be got, to cause a sufficient quantity to be boiled with the usual allowance of wheat or oatmeal, and portable broth every morning for breakfast for the company of his Majesty's sloop under your command, as well on meat days as on banyan days, and to continue the same so long as vegetables are to be got, or until further orders. Afterwards you are to continue to boil wheat or oatmeal for breakfast on Mondays, as directed by my order of the 6th of December last, but you are to discontinue to serve the additional half-allowance of spirit or wine mentioned in the said order. Given under my hand, on board his Majesty's sloop Resolution, in Dusky Bay, this 28th day of March, 1773.—J. Cook.

[At the date these instructions were issued Captain Furneux was lying in Queen Charlotte's Sound. The ships had separated in a fog, February 8, 1703, near Kerguelen Island. Four months thereafter they rejoined each other at their winter quarters in Queen Charlotte's Sound. The letter of instructions in that case must have been antique before it reached its destination We may take it for granted it was the first document dating from Dusky Sound.]