Discoveries in Australia, Volume 2
by
John Lort Stokes
Part 1 out of 8
Produced by Sue Asscher
DISCOVERIES IN AUSTRALIA;
WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE
COASTS AND RIVERS
EXPLORED AND SURVEYED DURING THE
VOYAGE OF H.M.S. BEAGLE,
IN THE YEARS 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43.
BY
COMMAND OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY.
ALSO
A NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN OWEN STANLEY'S VISITS
TO THE
ISLANDS IN THE ARAFURA SEA.
BY
J. LORT STOKES,
COMMANDER, R.N.
VOLUME 2.
LONDON:
T. AND W. BOONE, 29, NEW BOND STREET.
1846.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME 2.
CHAPTER 2.1.
Leave Port Essington.
Clarence Strait.
Hope Inlet.
Shoal Bay.
Ian for Observations.
Explore a new Opening.
Talc Head.
Port Darwin.
Continue Exploration.
Mosquitoes and Sandflies.
Nature of the Country.
Its parched appearance.
Large ant's nest.
Return to Shoal Bay.
Visit from the Natives.
Remarks.
Their teeth perfect.
Rite of Circumcision.
Observations on the Migrations of the Natives.
Theory of an Inland Sea.
Central Desert.
Salt water drunk by Natives.
Modes of procuring water.
Survey the harbour.
Natives on a raft.
Anecdote.
Bynoe Harbour.
Well.
Brilliant Meteors.
Natives on Point Emery.
Their surprise at the well.
Importance of water.
Anecdote.
Languages of Australia.
Specimens.
Remarks.
Leave Port Darwin.
Tides.
Squall.
Visit Port Patterson.
Leave.
Examine opening to the south-west.
Table Hill.
McAdam Range.
Adventure with an Alligator.
Exploring party.
Discovery of the Victoria.
Ascend the river.
Appearance of the Country.
Fitzmaurice River.
Indian Hill.
The Beagle taken up the river.
CHAPTER 2.2.
Exploration of the Victoria.
First appearance of Sea Range.
Curiosity Peak.
Appearance of Country from.
Whirlwind Plains.
Encounter with an Alligator.
His capture and description.
Cross Whirlwind Plains.
White and black ducks.
Kangaroos.
Enter hilly country.
Meet the boats.
Thunderstorm.
Carry boats over shoals.
New birds.
Reach Hopeless.
Progress of boats arrested.
Reconnoitre the river.
Prospect from View Hill.
Preparation for pedestrian excursion.
Leave Reach Hopeless to explore the upper part of the river.
Native village.
Squall.
Mussel Bend.
Meet Natives.
Successful fishing.
Party distressed.
Thirsty Flat.
Tortoise Reach.
Singular appearance of the ranges.
Effect of the great heat.
One man knocked up.
Approach of natives.
Preparation for defence.
Appearance of the natives.
Move further up the river.
Emu Plains.
Select position for night quarters.
Upward course of the Victoria.
Commence return.
Kangaroo shot.
Wickham Heights.
New Tortoise.
Lucky Valley.
Race was with a native.
Meet his tribe.
They make off.
Hard day's work.
Quarters for the night.
Return to Reach Hopeless.
CHAPTER 2.3. VICTORIA RIVER.
Proceed down the river from Reach Hopeless.
Meet watering party.
One of the men deserts.
Kangaroo shooting.
The writer left to complete survey of river.
Silk cotton-tree.
Fertility of Whirlwind Plains.
Attempt of one of the crew to jump overboard.
Reach the Ship.
Suffer from sore eyes.
Lieutenant Emery finds water.
Geological specimens.
Bird's Playhouse.
Tides.
Strange weather.
Range of Barometer.
Accounted for by proximity of Port Essington.
Hurricane.
Effects of the latter.
Dreary country behind Water Valley.
Fruitless attempt to weigh ship's anchors.
Obliged to slip from both of them.
Proceed down the river.
Complete survey of Main Channel.
Visit south Entrance Point of river.
Discover a number of dead turtles.
Cross over to Point Pearce.
Mr. Bynoe shoots a new finch.
The Author speared.
Pursued by natives.
Escape.
Flight of natives.
Armed party pursue them.
Night of suffering.
General description of the Victoria.
Gouty-stem tree and fruit.
CHAPTER 2.4. VICTORIA RIVER TO SWAN RIVER.
Leave Point Pearce.
Error in position of Cape Rulhieres.
Obtain soundings on supposed Sahul Shoal.
Discover a shoal patch on it.
Ascertain extent of bank of soundings off the Australian shore.
Strange winds in Monsoon.
See Scott's Reef.
Discover error in its position.
Make Depuch Island.
Prevalence of westerly winds near it.
Sperm whales.
Tedious passage.
Death and burial of the ship's cook.
Anecdotes of his life.
Good landfall.
Arrival at Swan River.
Find Colony improved.
Hospitality of Colonists.
Lieutenant Roe's account of his rescuing Captain Grey's party.
Burial of Mr. Smith.
Hurricane at Shark's Bay.
Observations on dry appearance of Upper Swan.
Unsuccessful cruise of Champion.
Visit Rottnest.
Fix on a hill for the site of a Lighthouse.
Aboriginal convicts.
Protectors of natives.
American whalers.
Miago.
Trees of Western Australia.
On the safety of Gage Roads.
CHAPTER 2.5.
Sail from Swan River.
Search for the supposed Turtle-dove Shoal.
Approach to Houtman's Abrolhos.
Find an anchorage.
View of the Lagoon.
Guano.
Remnants of the wreck of the Batavia.
Pelsart Group.
Visit the Main.
Geelvink Channel.
Enter Champion Bay.
Appearance of the Country.
Striking resemblance of various portions of the coast of Australia.
Leave Champion Bay.
Coast to the northward.
Resume our examination of the Abrolhos.
Easter Group.
Good Friday Harbour.
Lizards on Rat Island.
Coral formation.
Snapper Bank.
Zeewyk Passage.
Discoveries on Gun Island.
The Mangrove Islets.
Singular Sunset.
Heavy gale.
Wallaby Islands.
Flag Hill.
Slaughter Point.
Observations of Mr. Bynoe on the Marsupiata.
General character of the reefs.
Tidal observations.
Visit North Island.
Leave Houtman's Abrolhos.
General observations.
Proceed to Depuch Island.
Drawings on the rocks.
Native youth.
New bird and kangaroo.
Effects of Mirage.
Examine coast to the Turtle Isles.
Geographe Shoals.
Number of turtles.
Bedout Island.
Scott's Reef.
Approach to Timor.
Pulo Douw.
Scene on entering Coepang Bay.
Surprise of Swan River native.
Visit to the Resident.
His stories.
Fort Concordia.
Second visit to the Resident.
The Timorees.
Arrive at Pritie.
Description of the country.
Muster of the shooting party.
Success of the excursion.
The Javanese Commandant.
Character of the Timorees.
Dutch settlement in New Guinea.
Leave Coepang.
Island of Rottee.
Tykal Inlet.
Inhabitants of Polo Douw.
CHAPTER 2.6.
Sail from Rottee.
Search for shoal.
Dampier's Archipelago.
Examination of coast.
Strange weather.
Natives.
Passage between Delambre and Huiy Islands.
Proceed to Montebello Isles.
Description of them.
Barrow's Island.
Tryal Rocks.
New kangaroo.
Abundance of turtle.
New wallaby.
Sail for Swan River.
Find Ritchie's Reef.
Islands between Barrow's and North-West Cape.
Table of soundings.
Swan River Native.
Anchor under Rottnest.
Vocabulary.
Erect beacons.
Bad weather.
Habits of a native dog.
Geological observations.
Sail from Swan River.
Error in position of Cape Naturaliste.
King George's Sound.
Appearance of Bald Head.
Princess Royal Harbour.
Origin of settlement.
Town of Albany.
Salubrity of climate.
Excursion into interior.
Course a kangaroo.
Pitfalls.
Herds of kangaroos.
Rich country.
The Hay River.
Return to Albany.
Departure for South Australia.
Discover an Island.
Death of a seaman.
Position of Neptune Isles.
Kangaroo, Althorp and Quoin Islands.
Holdfast Road.
Adelaide.
Description of country.
Governor Gawler's policy.
Visit the Port.
Mr. Eyre's expedition.
Hardships of Overlanders.
Cannibalism.
Meet Captain Sturt.
Native schools.
System of education.
Sail for Sydney.
Squalls.
Error in coast.
Bass Strait.
Arrive at Sydney.
CHAPTER 2.7.
Land Sales.
Unsettled boundaries.
New Zealand.
Hunter River.
Midnight alarm.
Ludicrous scene.
Changes in Officers of ship.
Leave Sydney.
Port Stephens.
Corrobory.
Gale at Cape Upstart.
Magnetical Island.
Halifax Bay.
Astonish a Native.
Description of country.
Correct chart.
Restoration Island.
Picturesque arrival.
Interview with the Natives from Torres Strait.
Their weapons.
Shoal near Endeavour River.
Discover good passage through Endeavour Strait.
Booby Island.
New birds.
The Painted Quail.
CHAPTER 2.8. GULF OF CARPENTARIA.
Leave Booby Island.
Eastern shore of Gulf.
Van Diemen's Inlet.
Exploration of.
Party of Natives.
Level country.
Tides.
Visit Bountiful Islands.
Description of them.
Sail for Sweers Island.
Investigator Road.
Natives.
Locusts.
Record of the Investigator's visit.
Dig a well.
Boats explore island and coast to the westward.
Sweers and Bentinck Islands.
Tides.
Take ship over to the main.
Another boat expedition leaves.
Ship proceeds to the head of the Gulf.
Discovery and exploration of Disaster Inlet.
Narrow escape.
Description of Interior.
Wild Fowl.
Explore coast to the eastward.
Inlets.
Discover the Flinders.
The Cuckoo.
Ascent of the river.
Night scene.
Burial tree.
Remarks.
Return to the ship.
Exploration of south-western part of Gulf.
Large inlets discovered.
CHAPTER 2.9. GULF OF CARPENTARIA.
Boat expedition.
Explore an opening.
Discovery of the Albert.
Natives.
Picturesque Scenery.
Hope Reach.
Birds and Fishes.
Upper Branch.
Beauty of the Landscape.
Land excursion.
The Plains of Promise.
Halt the party and proceed alone.
Description of the country.
Return down the Albert.
Mouth of River.
Arrive at Van Diemen's Inlet.
Find Mr. Fitzmaurice severely wounded.
General result of the survey of the Gulf.
Winds and Temperature.
Booby Island.
Endeavour Strait.
Reach Port Essington.
CHAPTER 2.10. INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO.
Leave Port Essington.
Dobbo Island.
Visit from the Schoolmaster.
Church.
Trade of the Arrou Islands.
Their productions.
Visit from Natives.
The Banda Group.
Penal Settlement.
Adventures of a Javanese.
Captain de Stuers.
Native dance and sports.
Nutmeg Plantations.
Mode of preserving the fruit.
Amboyna.
Visit a natural grotto.
Sail from Amboyna.
Island of Kissa.
Village of Wauriti.
Missionary establishment.
Serwatty Group.
Return to Port Essington.
CHAPTER 2.11. PORT ESSINGTON AND THE NORTH-WEST COAST.
Appearance of Settlement.
Effects of climate.
Native mother.
Trade in teeth.
Macassar Proas.
Lieutenant Vallack visits the Alligator Rivers.
Interview with Natives.
Prospects of Port Essington.
Lieutenant Stewart's Route.
Climate.
Remarks of Mr. Bynoe.
Harbour of refuge.
Sail from Port Essington.
Sahul Shoal.
Arrive at Coepang.
Timorees.
Sail for North-west Coast.
Strong winds.
Cape Bossut.
Exploration of North-west Coast.
View of Interior.
Birds.
Solitary Island.
Visit the Shore.
Amphinome Shoals.
Bedout Island.
Breaker Inlet.
Exmouth Gulf.
Arrive at Swan River.
CHAPTER 2.12.
Reported Harbour.
Set out for Australind.
The Grass-tree.
Correspondence with Mr. Clifton, etc.
Sail from Gage Road.
Examination of coast.
Reach Champion Bay.
Visit Mount Fairfax and Wizard Peak.
Arid nature of country.
Want of water.
Native Grave.
The Greenough river.
Natives.
Leave Champion Bay.
Koombanah Bay.
Naturaliste Reef.
Reach South Australia.
Port Adelaide.
Proposed Railroad.
Visit Mount Barker.
Encounter Bay.
Native fishing.
Return to Adelaide.
Sail from South Australia.
Portland Bay.
Squatters.
Tour in the interior.
Fertile country.
View from the Sugarloaf.
Visit Cape Bridgewater.
Sail for Hobart.
Liberality of Sir John Franklin.
Atmospheric changes.
Arrive at Sydney.
CHAPTER 2.13.
Exploration of Interior.
Twofold Bay.
Survey of Bass Strait.
Dangerous situation of the Beagle.
Kent and Hogan Groups.
Gipps Land.
Wilson's Promontory.
The Tamar.
Eastern entrance of Strait.
Steam communication between India and Australia.
New Guinea.
Straitsmen.
North coast of Tasmania.
Aborigines.
Port Phillip.
Directions for ships passing King Island.
Complete survey of Bass Strait.
Farewell to Sydney.
Moreton Bay.
The Comet.
State of Tasmania, or Van Diemen's Land.
Lighthouses in Bass Strait.
CHAPTER 2.14. AUSTRALIA TO ENGLAND.
Sail from Tasmania.
The South-west Cape.
Monument to Flinders.
Rottnest Island.
Lighthouse.
Penal Establishment.
Longitude of Fremantle.
Final departure from Western Australia.
Rodrigue Island.
Effects of a hurricane at Mauritius.
The crew and passengers of a foundered vessel saved.
Bourbon.
Madagascar.
Simon's Bay.
Deep sea soundings.
Arrival in England.
Take leave of the Beagle.
The Surveying service.
...
APPENDIX.
WINDS AND WEATHER ON THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN COASTS OF AUSTRALIA.
BY COMMANDER J.C. WICKHAM, R.N.
LIST OF CHARTS.
VOLUME 2.
VICTORIA RIVER.
GULF OF CARPENTARIA.
ALBERT RIVER.
PART OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
PORT ADELAIDE AND HOLDFAST BAY.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
VOLUME 2.
MESSRS. FITZMAURICE AND KEYS DANCING FOR THEIR LIVES.
L.R. Fitzmaurice, del.
London, Published by T. & W. Boone, 1846.
FIRST APPEARANCE OF SEA RANGE.
HEAD AND FEET OF ALLIGATOR.
KILLING AN ALLIGATOR, VICTORIA RIVER.
G. Gore, del.
London, Published by T. & W. Boone, 1846.
WICKHAM HEIGHTS FROM TORTOISE REACH.
CAPTAIN STOKES SPEARED AT POINT PEARCE.
C. Martens, del.
London, Published by T. & W. Boone, 1846.
GOUTY-STEM TREE.
FRUIT OF GOUTY-STEM TREE.
Section of fruit, showing the manner in which the seeds are disposed.
VIEWS OF MORESBY'S RANGE, SEA RANGE, AND CAPE BEDFORD.
Moresby's Range, West Coast, latitude 28 degrees 50 minutes South.
Sea Range, Victoria River, North-west Coast, latitude 15 degrees 20
minutes South.
Cape Bedford, North-east Coast, latitude 15 degrees 10 minutes South.
ANCIENT DUTCH GUN.
Dutch Four-pounder, with moveable chamber.
NATIVE DRAWINGS.
Lithographic impression of the copies made by Captain Wickham of the
native drawings on Depuch Island. They have already appeared in the Royal
Geographical Journal Volume 12. The following list will convey to the
reader what the drawings are intended to represent.
1. A goose or duck.
2. A bird; probably the leipoa.
6. A beetle.
11. A fish over a quarter-moon; which has been considered to have some
reference to fishing by moonlight.
61. A native dog.
16. A native, armed with spear and wommera, or throwing stick, probably
relating his adventures, which is usually done by song, and accompanied
with great action and flourishing of weapons, particularly when boasting
of his prowess.
20. A duck and a gull.
34. A corrobory, or native dance.
65. A crab.
30. A native in a hut, with portion of the matting with which they cover
their habitations.
67. A kangaroo.
71. Appears to be a bird of prey, having seized upon a kangaroo-rat.
32. Shark and pilot-fish.
COEPANG FROM THE ANCHORAGE.
G. Gore, del.
London, Published by T. & W. Boone, 1846.
PASSING BETWEEN BALD HEAD AND VANCOUVER REEF.
G. Gore, del.
London, Published by T. & W. Boone, 1846.
ENTRANCE OF VAN DIEMEN'S INLET.
G. Gore, del.
London, Published by T. & W. Boone, 1846.
INTERESTING TREE.
BURIAL REACH, FLINDERS RIVER.
G. Gore, del.
London, Published by T. & W. Boone, 1846.
UPWARD VIEW OF HOPE REACH, ALBERT RIVER.
G. Gore, del.
London, Published by T. & W. Boone, 1846.
FIRST VIEW OF THE PLAINS OF PROMISE, ALBERT RIVER.
G. Gore, del.
LAST VIEW OF THE PLAINS OF PROMISE, ALBERT RIVER.
G. Gore, del.
London, Published by T. & W. Boone, 1846.
APPROACH TO PORTLAND BAY.
Cape Nelson, Cape Grant, Lawrence Isles East-North-East nine miles.
DANGEROUS SITUATION OF BEAGLE.
A.J. Mason Sc.
DEVIL'S TOWER.
350 feet high, West, two miles.
KILLING A KANGAROO.
A.J. Mason Sc.
HUMMOCK ISLAND.
Highest part 400 feet, bearing South-East 20 miles.
...
JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY.
CHAPTER 2.1.
Leave Port Essington.
Clarence Strait.
Hope Inlet.
Shoal Bay.
Land for Observations.
Explore a new Opening.
Talc Head.
Port Darwin.
Continue Exploration.
Mosquitoes and Sandflies.
Nature of the Country.
Its parched appearance.
Large ant's nest.
Return to Shoal Bay.
Visit from the Natives.
Remarks.
Their teeth perfect.
Rite of Circumcision.
Observations on the Migrations of the Natives.
Theory of an Inland Sea.
Central Desert.
Salt water drunk by Natives.
Modes of procuring water.
Survey the harbour.
Natives on a raft.
Anecdote.
Bynoe Harbour.
Well.
Brilliant Meteors.
Natives on Point Emery.
Their surprise at the well.
Importance of water.
Anecdote.
Languages of Australia.
Specimens.
Remarks.
Leave Port Darwin.
Tides.
Squall.
Visit Port Patterson.
Leave.
Examine opening to the south-west.
Table Hill.
McAdam Range.
Adventure with an Alligator.
Exploring party.
Discovery of the Victoria.
Ascend the river.
Appearance of the Country.
Fitzmaurice River.
Indian Hill.
The Beagle taken up the river.
LEAVE PORT ESSINGTON.
Early on the morning of the 4th of September, 1839, the Beagle was once
more slipping out of Port Essington before a light land wind. We had
taken a hearty farewell of our friends at Victoria, in whose prosperity
we felt all the interest that is due to those who pioneer the way for
others in the formation of a new settlement. No doubt the hope that our
discoveries might open a new field for British enterprise, and contribute
to extend still more widely the blessings of civilization, increased the
sympathy we felt for the young colony at Victoria. There is always a
feeling of pride and pleasure engendered by the thought that we are in
any way instrumental to the extension of man's influence over the world
which has been given him to subdue. In the present instance, the success
of our last cruise and the state of preparation in which we were now in
for a longer one, caused us to take our departure from Port Essington in
far higher spirits than on the former occasion.
PASS THROUGH CLARENCE STRAIT.
We again shaped our course for Clarence Strait, the western entrance of
which was still unexamined. The wind, however, being light, we passed the
night in Popham Bay; and on leaving next morning, had only six fathoms in
some tide ripplings nearly two miles off its south point, Cape Don. We
passed along the south side of Melville Island, where a large fire was
still burning. Early in the evening we anchored in seven fathoms, to wait
for a boat that had been sent to examine a shoal bay on the North-West
side of Cape Keith. Green Ant Cliffs bore South-West two miles.
September 7.
Weighing at daylight we hauled up south, into the middle of the channel,
crossing a ridge of 5 1/2 fathoms; Ant Cliffs bearing West-South-West
five miles, and three or four from the shore. This ridge appears to be
thrown up at the extremity of the flats fronting the shore. On deepening
the water to 10 and 12 fathoms, the course was changed to West 1/2 South,
passing midway between North Vernon Isle and Cape Gambier, where the
width of the channel is seven miles, though the whole of it is not
available for the purposes of navigation, a long detached reef lying
three miles from the Cape, and a small one two miles from the North
Vernon Isle.* The tide hurried the Beagle past between these reefs with
some rapidity, the soundings at the time being 19 fathoms.
(*Footnote. These isles, three in number, lying quite in the centre of
the western entrance of the Strait, are fringed with extensive coral
reefs. There are, however, deep passages between them.)
Having cleared Clarence Strait, and found it to be perfectly navigable
with common precaution (which in a slight degree enhanced the value of
the discovery of the Adelaide) our course was directed for a bay to the
southward, which Captain King had not examined. A very refreshing cool
north-westerly seabreeze* had just succeeded a short calm. Passing four
miles from the western extremity of the Vernon Isles, we had irregular
soundings of ten and seven fathoms. The ripplings and discoloured water
are a warning that they should be approached with caution on this side.
(*Footnote. The seabreeze prevailing from the westward through Clarence
Strait, the passage to Port Essington from the westward, during the
easterly monsoon, might be more easily made by passing through it,
instead of working along the north side of Melville Island.)
The mouth of a considerable inlet came in sight at the head of a bay as
we advanced towards it, steering South by East. This opening began to
appear of consequence as we drew near, although the singularly gradual
decrease in the soundings, on a sandy bottom materially diminished the
probability of its being the mouth of a river. Still, when we anchored as
near as we could approach, there remained a hope of its being so.
HOPE INLET. SHOAL BAY.
September 8.
Early in the morning Mr. Forsyth and myself started to explore the
opening. We soon discovered that it was nothing more than a shallow creek
at low-water. The tide here rising twenty feet, gave it the important
appearance it had yesterday evening. A tall clump of naked trees was
conspicuous at the east entrance point, towering above the insipid
mangrove shore. We gave it the name of Hope Inlet, to commemorate the
feelings it excited on its first discovery. From the south point of
Clarence Strait it is distant eleven miles, and the bay in which it lies,
from the shallow-water at the head of it, was called Shoal Bay.
The boat being provisioned for four days, we pushed on to explore another
opening above fifteen miles to the westward. The seabreeze setting in
early, we did not reach it till after dark, when we landed for
observations at a cliffy projection near the eastern entrance point: this
we found to be composed of a kind of pipeclay, mixed with calcareous
matter. We had some difficulty in landing, and then in scrambling up the
cliffs by the light of a lantern. If any of the watchful natives happened
at the time to be on the lookout, they must have stood fixed with
astonishment at beholding such strange persons, who at such a time of
night, with no ostensible object were visiting their shores.
EXPLORE A NEW OPENING.
September 9.
Before the veil of darkness was quite removed, we could faintly
distinguish the mouth of the opening; and the sight at daylight was most
cheering. A wide bay appearing between two white cliffy heads, and
stretching away within to a great distance, presented itself to our view.
Far to the southward, between the heads, rose a small table-topped hill.
As we pulled in towards the eastern entrance point, the river-like
appearance began to wear off, more land making its appearance towards the
head of the opening. On reaching this point Mr. Forsyth and myself
climbed up the cliff, whilst the breakfast was cooking. From the summit
we had a good view of the bay, and were delighted to find large openings
in the south-east and south-west corners of it. The table hill before
mentioned, stood on the point between them. To see the eastern part of
it, however, it was necessary to cross to the opposite point, where some
talc slate, pieces of which measured four inches in length, was found
imbedded in quartz. The point was called in consequence, Talc Head.
PORT DARWIN.
The other rocks near it were of a fine-grained sandstone: a new feature
in the geology of this part of the continent, which afforded us an
appropriate opportunity of convincing an old shipmate and friend, that he
still lived in our memory; and we accordingly named this sheet of water
Port Darwin. A few small bamboos grew on this head; the other trees were
chiefly white gums. I climbed to the top of one of them, and obtained
thence a view of another opening in the eastern part of the harbour. It
now being low-water, an extensive shoal was discovered, reaching from
abreast of Talc Head to the point separating the South-East and
South-West openings, an extent of nearly five miles. This somewhat
diminished the value of our discovery, as it limited the capabilities of
the bay as a harbour.
We now proceeded to explore the north-eastern and largest opening,
distant six miles from our station. A large islet and a reef left the
entrance only a mile wide. Expanding again, it formed two arms, one
running south, the other East-South-East, between small groups of
singular isolated haycock-shaped hills, about 250 feet high. Following
the latter, being the largest, we found that it soon curved round, taking
a southerly direction. A bank free from mangroves occurring in this bend,
we availed ourselves of it, as the day was closing in, to secure some
early stars for latitude and longitude. The intense pleasure afforded by
traversing water that had never before been divided by any keel, in some
measure compensated us for the annoyance from the mosquitoes and
sandflies, that took the opportunity of assailing us while in the
defenceless state of quiet necessary in making observations. Pushing out
into the middle of the stream, and each wielding a beater, our tiny
enemies were soon shaken off, and borne back to the shore by a refreshing
North-West breeze.
We found it necessary to keep a sharp lookout here for the alligators, as
they swarmed in dangerous numbers.
The scarcity of fish, and the shallowness of the water did not hold out
much hope that the arm we were tracing would prove of great extent; still
many speculations were hazarded on the termination of it. The temperature
in the night was down to 78 degrees, and the dew sufficiently heavy to
wet the boat's awning through.
CONTINUE EXPLORATION.
Anxious to know how far this piece of water was to carry us into the
untrodden wilds of Australia, we moved off with the first streak of dawn.
Ten miles in a South by East direction brought us to where the width and
depth was not sufficient to induce us to proceed further. Besides, as we
were then only fifteen miles from a bend of the upper part of the
Adelaide, which must receive the drainage of all that part of the
country, it seemed improbable that any other large river existed in the
neighbourhood. Six miles from our furthest, which was about thirty miles
from the entrance, we passed a small island. The banks on either side of
the inlet were, as usual, a thick grove of mangroves, except in one spot,
a mile lower down, where we landed on our return for observations. This
we found to be a low cliffy projection of slate formation, whilst
scattered over the face of the few miles of country, which we are able to
explore, were small bits of quartz; large blocks also of which protruded
occasionally through a light kind of mould.
APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY.
The country was a most thirsty-looking level, the low brushwood on which
cracked and snapped as we walked through it, with a brittle dryness that
testified how perfectly parched-up was everything. A single spark would
instantly have wrapped the whole face of the country in one sheet of
fire. Slight blasts of heated withering air, as if from an oven, would
occasionally strike the face as we walked along; sometimes they were
loaded with those peculiar and most agreeable odours that arise from
different kinds of gums. Still the white eucalyptus and the palm, wore in
comparison with the other vegetation, an extraordinary green appearance,
derived probably from the nightly copious falls of dew, which is the only
moisture this part of the continent receives during the present season.
The birds we observed were common to other parts of the continent, being
a few screaming cockatoos, parrots, and quails, and near the water a
small white egret. There was nothing of interest to recall our memories
to this first visit to a new part of Australia, save a very large ant's
nest, measuring twenty feet in height. This object is always the first
that presents itself whenever my thoughts wander to that locality.
As the boat was not provisioned for the time it would take to explore all
the openings we had discovered, and as the capabilities of Port Darwin
were sufficiently great to require the presence of the ship, I determined
on returning immediately to Shoal Bay.
VISIT FROM THE NATIVES.
During the time we were absent, some of our people who had been on shore,
received a visit from a party of natives, who evinced the most friendly
disposition. This verifies what I have before observed, as to the
remarkable differences of character that exist between many Australian
tribes, though living in the immediate neighbourhood of each other; for,
it will be remembered, that at no great distance we had experienced a
very different reception.
Those people amounted in number, with their families, to twenty-seven,
and came down to our party without any symptoms of hesitation. Both men
and women were finer than those we had seen in Adam Bay. The tallest male
measured five feet eleven, which is three inches less than a native
Flinders measured in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The teeth of these people
were ALL PERFECT, an additional proof that the ceremony of knocking them
out, like others practised in Australia, is very partially diffused. The
rite of circumcision, for instance, is only performed at King's Sound, on
the west side of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and near the head of the
Australian bight on the south. Mr. Eyre, who discovered the existence of
the rite on the last-mentioned part of the continent, infers that the
natives of the places I have mentioned must have had some communication
with each other through the interior; but it is possible that at a
distant period of time, circumcision may have been very generally
practised, and that having become gradually disused, the custom is now
only preserved at two or three points, widely separated from each other.
I do not advance this as a theory, but simply as a suggestion, as there
is some difficulty in supposing communication to have taken place across
the continent.
MIGRATION OF THE NATIVES.
Some light may be thrown on the migration of the aboriginal inhabitants
of Australia, by tracing the parts of the coast on which canoes are in
use. It has already been mentioned, that we had not seen any westward of
Clarence Strait, neither were they in use in the bottom of the Gulf of
Carpentaria, nor on the south coast.* By the assistance of these and
similar facts, we may hereafter be enabled to discover the exact
direction in which the streams of population have flowed over the
continent. But I am not prepared to agree entirely with Mr. Eyre when he
concludes, as I have stated, from the fact of the rite of circumcision
having been found on the south and north-west coasts, and on the Gulf of
Carpentaria, that there exists any peculiar connection between the tribes
inhabiting those several points. This enterprising traveller moreover
thinks that the idea he has started goes far towards refuting the theory
of an inland sea, another presumption against which he maintains to be
the hot winds that blow from the interior.
(*Footnote. An inference may be drawn from the parts of the shore on
which canoes are in use, to show that the migrations of the natives, so
far southwards, have been along the coast. The raft they use is precisely
the same in make and size on the whole extent of the North-west coast.)
THEORY OF AN INLAND SEA.
I confess that the theory of an inland sea has long since vanished from
my mind, though I base my opinion on reasons different from those of Mr.
Eyre. The intercourse between natives of opposite sides of the continent
(though it is certainly possible) has never been established, and while
it remains hypothetical, cannot be adduced to overthrow another
hypothesis. The existence of hot winds also blowing from the interior is
not conclusive, as we had, when in the Gulf of Carpentaria, very cold
winds coming from the same direction. We know, however, that the
temperature of winds depends much on the nature of the soil over which
they sweep, for instance, in a cold clayey soil, the radiation of heat is
very rapid.
Before quitting this subject it may be as well to mention that my own
impression, which the most recent information bears out, is that instead
of an inland sea, there is in the centre of Australia a vast desert, the
head of which, near Lake Torrens, is not more than three hundred feet
above the level of the sea. The coast being surrounded by hilly ranges,
the great falls of rain that must occasionally occur in the interior, may
convert a vast extent of the central and lowest portion, towards the
north side of the continent, into a great morass, or lake, which, from
the northerly dip, must discharge its waters slowly into the Gulf of
Carpentaria, without possessing sufficient stability to mark either its
bed or boundaries.
FRIENDLY NATIVES.
To return to the party of natives which has given rise to this
digression. They had clearly never seen a white person before; for they
stepped up to one man of fair complexion, who had his trousers turned up
over his knees, and began rubbing his skin to see whether it was painted.
They came fearlessly to our party, as they were collecting shells at the
extremity of a long flat. One of the officers, who happened to be very
thirsty, placed such confidence in their friendly manner, that he allowed
them to conduct him alone to a small well near the beach, but the water
was too salt to be drunk. The force of habit is astonishing: natives
drink this brackish fluid and find it very refreshing. The small quantity
that suffices them is also surprising, though they will drink enormously
when they can get it.
MODES OF PROCURING WATER.
Their mode of procuring this necessary element is singular, and they
exhibit in this particular much ingenuity and great fertility of
resources. They are never harassed with the idea of being without any;
which not only distresses but adds to the horror of thirst with the
European explorer, who has not experienced the constant watchfulness of
Providence, and does not know that he may collect from the leaves, with a
sponge, on some mornings, as much as a pint of water. This has, however,
been done, even on the south coast, where the dews are not so copious as
on the north-west. The natives themselves are never at a loss for that
indeed precious article, water. They sometimes procure it by digging up
the lateral roots of the small gumtree, a dusty and fatiguing operation:
they break them off in short bits, and set them up to drain into a piece
of bark or a large shell. By tapping also the knotty excrescences of
trees they find the fluid, which they suck out. Many of these modes of
obtaining water are of course known to experienced bushmen, like Mr.
Eyre, whose deeply interesting narrative of his hardships and perils has
already enlisted the sympathy of the public.
September 12.
We moved the ship into Port Darwin, anchoring just within the eastern
cliffy head which, to commemorate Lieutenant Emery's success in finding
water by digging, we named after him.
SURVEY OF THE HARBOUR.
All the surveying force was now put in instant requisition; Captain
Wickham went to examine an opening in the coast mentioned by Captain
King, lying about twelve miles further to the westward, whilst the other
boats explored the openings at the head of the harbour.
That on the eastern part, Mr. Fitzmaurice traced ten miles in a
south-easterly direction, being the greatest distance it was navigable
for a boat. The remaining branch in the large opening, in the
south-eastern corner of the harbour, Mr. Forsyth and myself explored
South-South-East three miles, and South-South-West five more, the extent
to which it was possible to advance. Beyond, it was strewed with large
blocks of granite; a fact, for which we were in some degree prepared, as
in the vicinity of the Adelaide River we had proof of the primary
formation of this part of the continent. As the boat lay scarcely afloat
between two of these lumps of rock, numbers of white ibises, with black
necks, kept flying over us from the southward, indicating that a swamp
lay in that direction. We also disturbed several alligators, who slid off
quietly into the water at our approach. There was no variety in the
shores of this inlet, composed like all the others, of an impenetrable
network of mangroves. A ridge of the same conical-shaped low hills before
alluded to, as existing in this neighbourhood, rose upon our right as we
came up, and bore from our furthest North by West two miles; from the
highest part up the inlet in the south-west corner, east two miles.
The latter we found very tortuous, extending in a general direction south
nine miles. No events occurred worthy of any remark during our
examination, except one of a trifling character: the mosquitoes taking
advantage of the calm, between the high mangroves on the banks, attacked
us most cruelly, a circumstance we mention as trifling, as far as the
reader is concerned, but of great moment to us.
After completing the survey of the southern and western portion of this
harbour, we returned to the ship, where soon afterwards Captain Wickham
also arrived, having found Patterson Bay to be a good port. It trended in
south ten miles, and East-South-East the same distance, forming quite an
inner haven, which was named after Mr. Bynoe.
NATIVES ON A RAFT.
At the turning leading from the outer to the inner harbour they came
suddenly in view of a raft making across, a distance of three miles, on
which were two women with several children, whilst four or five men were
swimming alongside, towing it and supporting themselves by means of a log
of wood across their chests. On perceiving the boat they instantly struck
out for the land leaving the women on the raft. For some time the latter
kept their position, waiting until the boat got quite near, when they
gave utterance to a dreadful yell, and assuming at the same time a most
demoniacal aspect, plunged into the water as if about to abandon the
children to their fate.
MATERNAL AFFECTION AND FEAR.
Not so, however; despite the dreadful fear they appeared to entertain of
the white man, maternal affection was strong within them, and risking all
to save their offspring, they began to tow the raft with all their
strength towards the shore. This devotion on the part of the women to
their little ones, was in strong contrast with the utter want of feeling
shown by the men towards both mothers and children.
Captain Wickham now, no doubt to their extreme consternation, pulled
after the men, and drove them back to the raft. Some dived and tried thus
to escape the boat, while others grinned ferociously, and appeared to
hope, by dint of hideous grimaces--such as are only suggested even to a
savage by the last stage of fear--to terrify the white men from
approaching. At length, however, they were all driven back to the raft,
which was then towed across the harbour for them; a measure which they
only were able to approve of when they had landed, and fear had quite
subsided.
Doubtless, the forbearance of our party surprised them, for from their
terrified looks and manner, when swimming with all their strength from
the raft, they must have apprehended a fate at least as terrible as that
of being eaten.
The raft itself was quite a rude affair, being formed of small bundles of
wood lashed together, without any shape or form, quite different from any
we had seen before.
Bynoe Harbour was found to terminate in three deep creeks branching off
between North-East and South-East, the largest of which led into fresh
water, but in small detached pools, which are separated from the salt, by
a shelf of red porous sandstone, and which two miles further became
entirely lost in the rocks. The green appearance of the gumtrees and an
occasional clump of palms, which had pleasingly succeeded the mangroves,
as they advanced, assured Captain Wickham that there was fresh water
near. Probably, if they had carried their researches further, they would
have found these signs reappear again, doubtless proceeding from a swamp,
the presence of which the reader will recollect I inferred from seeing
the ibis flocking from the south-west up the south inlet in Port Darwin;
the west inlet of which is only one mile distant from the north-east
creek in the head of Bynoe Harbour. Doubtless when the country is not in
its present parched and thirsty state, all these are fresh at their
heads.
WELL AT PORT DARWIN.
The slow progress made in watering, from the soft nature of the soil in
the bottom of the well, lengthened our stay considerably in Port Darwin.
The water oozed through the sides, beginning to do so at a depth of
twenty-five feet. The strata cut through varied considerably, in part
consisting of ironstone mixed with a white kind of marl or pipeclay, for
eight feet, then sandstone of a reddish colour and in a state of
decomposition, with a darker kind of marl, in which were small bits of
mica, for a depth of sixteen feet, the remaining portion of two or three
being a sandy mud, apparently of the consistency of clay and of a light
grey colour. The position of this well is in a small valley at the east
end of the first sandy bay within Point Emery, in the centre of which the
observations were made, placing it in latitude 12 degrees 27 minutes 45
seconds, longitude 1 degree 19 minutes 40 seconds, East of Port
Essington.
On this beach several unsuccessful hauls were made with the seine, though
a few rare and curious fish were taken, which Lieutenant Emery added to
his collection of coloured drawings of Australian fish; some of them will
be found in the appendix to this volume. Mr. Bynoe also obtained
specimens of one or two rare birds; the large red-necked vampire of the
Adelaide River, and the cream-coloured pigeon before alluded to, were
also seen by him, being the farthest south the latter was met with by us.
BRILLIANT METEORS.
Some brilliant meteors were observed during our stay, one in particular
on the evening of the 20th, in the West-North-West. It fell from the
zenith at an angle of about twenty degrees from a vertical line. The
descent was marked by a long train of light, visible ten seconds, while
others of less brilliancy followed from the same place within an hour.
Again on the 23rd, was the dark vault of heaven illumined about the same
time in a similar manner, as well as on the 28th; the number of meteors
being the same on each day.
We were rather surprised on the 24th, to experience a squall from the
eastward about midnight, a regular occurrence on the North-west coast in
January and February only.
VISITED BY NATIVES.
On the 24th a party of natives made their appearance on Point Emery.
Their voices, shrill like those of all their fellows, were heard before
they were seen. With these it was particularly so, though on all
occasions the speaking, and hallooing of the Aborigines can be heard at a
very considerable distance. They were found, when on shore, to be of the
party we had before seen in Shoal Bay, with the addition of five strange
men. All appeared actuated by the same friendly disposition, a very
strong indication of which was their presenting themselves without
spears.* Like most others on that coast, they had apiece of bamboo,
eighteen inches long, run through the cartilage of the nose. Their
astonishment at the size of the wells was highly amusing; sudden
exclamations of surprise and admiration burst from their lips, while the
varied expressions and play of countenance, showed how strongly their
feelings were at work within.
(*Footnote. Speaking of natives appearing without spears, reminds me to
mention for the information of future explorers, that their arms are
always near at hand. They even trail them sometimes between their toes, a
fact which travellers should ever bear in mind.)
It is very singular, and not very susceptible of explanation, that
although they climb tall trees by merely resting their toes in a slight
notch cut as they ascend, the natives will hesitate in alarm before
looking over the edge of a precipice or height; it was, therefore, some
time before this party could be induced to look down the well. At length
by stretching their spare bodies and necks to the utmost, they caught
sight of the water in the bottom.
SURPRISE OF NATIVES AT THE WELL.
The effect upon them was magical, and they stood at first as if
electrified. At length their feelings gained vent, and from their lips
proceeded an almost mad shout of delight. Nothing perhaps could have more
decisively shown the superiority of the white men to these savages, than
our being thus able to procure this necessary of life from so great a
depth, there being moreover no outward appearance of any. Perhaps their
delight may be considered a sign how scarce is water in this part of the
country. I should certainly say from the immense quantity each man drank,
which was two quarts, that this was the case. A further corroboration of
the extreme importance of this element to the Western Australian is, that
a native, in describing a fine country, always opens his narrative by
stating the important fact--plenty water.
The deep interest which in the natives always succeeds to the discovery
of this necessary article, must strongly impress the explorer, who will
ever afterwards look upon streams, even in other countries, with far
different feelings from any before experienced. In no land does the
presence of water more rapidly enrich the landscape, changing it from a
thirsty-looking plain to a rich green spot, than in Australia, and it is
in journeying through such a country, when one suddenly meets with a
luxuriant valley, that the eye naturally dwells with delight on the
changing scene, and the impression, not easily forgotten, clings to us
even when far away. When gazing on the superabundant water that flows in
almost every corner of the earth, we cannot but reflect on the scantily
supplied Australian, nor fail to wish him a more plentiful supply.
BLESSING OF WATER.
Naturally we are disposed to reflect but little on the great blessings of
the most ordinary things. In the eyes of the civilized man, fire and
water are matters scarcely worthy of thought; but it is the traveller who
learns to appreciate how great blessings they are in reality.
An influenza appeared to be raging among the natives, all having the
remnants of colds, coughing severely when we met them. Several attempts
were made to induce them to come on board, but they proved vain.
Sometimes, just as the boat was leaving the shore, they would enter the
bow of it, as if about to accompany us; no sooner, however, was the boat
in motion, than out they jumped, laughing and apparently delighted to
deceive us, acting, in fact, exactly the part of noisy
children.
"IRRU, IRRU."
Our friendly intercourse with these natives sustained a shock, which at
first threatened to annihilate it, but which fortunately ended, as it
began, in smoke. One of the officers used a common flint and steel, in
order to procure a light for his cigar; at this new mode of procuring
fire all eyes were open--for doubtless they procure it only by means of
friction--but when he proceeded to place the lighted cigar between his
lips, and roll forth from thence a thick and perfumed cloud, fright took
full possession of them, and exclaiming "irru, irru," with the arm
extended, and a slight vertical motion of the hand, they darted off most
unceremoniously, clambering up the face of a precipitous cliff, with
extraordinary agility. Their cry of "irru, irru," and their manner of
delivering it, were identical with those of King's Sound, under somewhat
similar circumstances. In a few days they had forgotten their fright, and
had returned to renew the friendly relations this little incident had
interrupted.
During the short time we passed with this people in Port Darwin, some
words of their language were collected by many of us. Those that we all
agreed in I have noted down, but the different names for things given by
the same person, here and at Shoal Bay, will at once impress the reader
with the conviction of how impossible it is for transient visitors to
obtain a correct vocabulary. Those first made out at Port Essington, were
found to be half Malay words, and of any meaning rather than what they
were supposed to convey. The words given below are from Mr. Earl's
vocabulary, the result of four years careful examination and experience.
COLUMN 1: ENGLISH.
COLUMN 2: SHOAL BAY.
COLUMN 3: PORT DARWIN.
COLUMN 4: PORT ESSINGTON.
COLUMN 5: SWAN RIVER.
Crab : Algaura : - : Meir : -.
Dog : Melinga : - : Mugki : Dudah.
Ear : Bangua : - : Alayjar : Zungah.
Eye : Ummera : Mical : Ira : Mael.
Hair : Brailma : Guarshiel : Angbal : Cutap.
Hand : - : Guian : - : -.
Stone : - : Lowheil : - : -.
Tree : Urmingua : - : Ojalli : Boono.
Teeth : Emburge : - : Aujije : Nalgo.
Water : - : Kararback : - : Kaaby.
DIFFICULTY OF UNDERSTANDING THE NATIVES.
The great difference between the words at Shoal Bay and Port Darwin, must
now be apparent to the reader; a more extended acquaintance with the
aboriginal inhabitants of Australia, has shown that many words put down
by us as meaning a certain thing, signify in reality, "What do you mean?"
"I do not understand"--which shows at once the great difficulty of
arriving at the truth. This must often be the case; for what is more
natural, than that when a savage is asked the meaning of a thing, and
knows not, but that he should express his ignorance? How often this
expression of ignorance has been registered as the denomination of some
animal or thing, we leave the reader to conjecture. Moreover, there are
many words totally obliterated from their dialects, which thus undergo
constant alteration. This in part arises from the circumstance of their
never mentioning the name of a deceased person, who has perhaps been
called after a tree, bird, or animal; which then receives another
appellation, the old one passing away. From the few words given of the
respective dialects of Port Essington and Swan River, they would appear
essentially to differ, and from what has since come under my own
observation, as well as from facts collected by others, I feel confident
that there are many distinct dialects spoken in Australia.
DIALECTS OF AUSTRALIA.
It is easy enough for those who hold to the theory that Australia
produces few dialects, to create for themselves a resemblance in words by
mutilation and addition; but on careful examination, the similarity will
not be found to exist. The natives we took from Swan River, never could
understand any of those we met on the North-west coast, though certainly
Mr. Moore recognized a few words spoken by the natives on the West coast,
about 200 miles north of Swan River, as being identical with the language
used at the latter place.
It may here be as well to quote Strzelecki on this subject, ere we pursue
our narrative:
"The circumstance of the three natives who accompanied Captain Flinders
and Captain P.P. King, in the survey of New Holland, and of those who
accompanied me amongst the different tribes of New South Wales, being
unable to understand one word spoken by tribes of other districts, would
lead to the belief that the dialects spoken in New Holland, are far from
possessing those affinities, still less those identities of language,
from which a common root might be inferred. Those European visitors or
explorers who adduce, in support of a common root, some hundred words
analogous in sound, construction and meaning, as being spoken all over
New Holland, have jumped to the conclusion with, I fear, too much haste
and eagerness. Besides many other insuperable difficulties, which an
investigation of such a nature presents, there was one quite sufficient
to defeat all attempts to fathom the subject, namely, the syntactic
ignorance of the language to which the inquiry related. Indeed, to any
man who knows and speaks four European languages, it will be at once
apparent, that to seize upon, and note from the sound, a word belonging
to one country, so as to compare its sound and accentuation with a word
belonging to another country, needs a thorough knowledge of the genius of
the two languages, and of their alphabet, through which alone the
pronunciation can be discriminated."
Though, however, we may not attain to a knowledge of the truth at once,
yet should we never lose an opportunity of making a vocabulary of such
words as we know to be correct. This should be the case from one
consideration alone; for how gratifying it is, when visiting an
uncivilized people, to find that you know a word or two of their
language! The satisfaction is mutual--there is at once a sympathetic link
between you--you no longer appear as thorough strangers to each other,
and this slight knowledge of their dialect may often be the means of
making useful acquaintances.
To return, however, to the thread of our narrative.
LEAVE PORT DARWIN.
The opening to the westward, visited by Captain Wickham, requiring
further examination, we left Port Darwin for that purpose, beating out on
the morning of the 26th. Before taking leave, however, of this place, it
will not be deemed irrelevant if we give some slight description of it.
The entrance points, I have already said, are white cliffy projections,
and distant from each other three miles. Just outside them lies a long
four fathom bank, which, together with a very extensive flat of one, and
two fathoms, nearly joining it from the eastern side, and another
fronting the north side of the west entrance point, comprise all the
dangers on entering this port; which, although of considerable size, is
much occupied by shoal water, particularly on the western side,
commencing from abreast of Talc Head. The best anchorage is near Point
Emery. The extreme of the latter, and a clump of peaked bushes on the
south point of the eastern arm of the harbour, when in one, make a good
mark for leading out; passing on the west side of the four fathom bank,
where the channel is a mile wide and 10 fathoms deep.
IRREGULARITY OF THE TIDES.
The tide is very irregular in Port Darwin, rising at springs 24 feet, and
at neaps sometimes only two; its rate being from one and a half to three
knots. The time of high-water at the full and change of moon, was
half-past five, which being half an hour earlier than at Clarence Strait,
fully bears out the opinion I have before expressed, that the flood-tide
comes from the westward.
Having to beat out against the seabreeze, the flood-tide made before we
could get round the point on the coast lying midway between Ports Darwin
and Patterson, and we were compelled to pass the night in the
neighbourhood, a circumstance rendered disagreeable by the recurrence of
another midnight squall from East-North-East, so severe as to require the
use of a second anchor. The rain was so bitterly cold and sudden, as well
as violent, acting also on our frames with more severity from the
lightness of our clothing, that it had all the effect of a shower-bath,
momentarily taking away the power of speech. It caused a rapid fall in
the thermometer of ten degrees, bringing it as low as 60 degrees. At Port
Darwin it had been regularly 87 and 89 degrees in the day, and 80 degrees
at night.
MIDNIGHT SQUALL.
The squall gave but slight warning of its approach, and four hours
afterwards the mutinous assemblage of clouds had wholly disappeared from
the heavens, leaving nothing to stay the advent of light which came
pouring itself in floods of molten glory over the cloudless sky, as the
morning broke. This was the signal of our again moving towards Port
Patterson, which we entered, passing on the eastern side of the reef in
the mouth, and anchoring close to the eastern shore of the outermost of a
chain of sandy islets, forming the west entrance point of the harbour,
and extending eight miles in a North-North-East 1/2 East direction from
the land. This group is based on a great coral ledge that dries in part
at low-water, thus affording the natives the means of going over easily
to them, a circumstance of which they avail themselves, as we found them
on the outer island. They would not, however, come near us, moving off as
we landed. Doubtless the terror of some of their party, in a great
measure arose from a vivid recollection of the raft interview, which was
likely to dwell long in their minds; at all events, if not of the same
party, they had heard of us, and it will readily be believed, that we had
been painted in sufficiently terrible and exaggerated colours to render a
second interview, in their minds, very undesirable.
QUAIL ISLAND.
Our discovering them in this place, which we named Quail Island, from
that bird being found in great abundance, quite destroyed the hope we had
previously entertained of procuring turtle there. It was the season for
their incubation, and at that time the island swarmed with them; but our
sable friends had abundantly availed themselves of this fact, as we saw
the remains of several of their turtle feasts. Although low, and composed
entirely of sand, we found a native well of excellent water near the
middle of the island, which, having been enlarged, afforded an ample
supply, a circumstance that at once renders this a spot of importance and
value. Both on this and others of the group there were a few small trees
and a sprinkling of brushwood.
We did not notice any of the singular detached hills seen at Port Darwin,
and the greatest elevation any of the land in the neighbourhood attained
was 200 feet; neither did we observe any primary rocks.
The observations were made at the South-East point of Quail Island, which
by them is placed in latitude 12 degrees 30 9/10 minutes South, and
longitude 1 degree 42 1/4 minutes West of Port Essington. The almost
insulated character of this part of the coast, and the quantity of
soundings the openings required detained us until the 6th of October,
when we passed out on the western side of the large reef in the centre of
the entrance, which is the proper one, and received the name of West
Channel. The western entrance point of Bynoe's Harbour, bearing South 15
degrees East, leads through it. This guide is only, however, of service
to a certain distance within the entrance, as it leads over a small patch
that dries at low-water, distant two and a half miles from the
above-mentioned point on the same bearing. To avoid this danger, it is
therefore necessary to haul over towards Quail Island, when the highest
hummock on it bears South-West 1/2 West. The tides follow the direction
of the channel, varying in velocity from one to two knots. The ebb in the
offing set West-North-West.
PORT PATTERSON.
The reader will be able to have an idea of the large sheet of water these
united harbours form, by knowing that Port Patterson is twelve miles long
and seven wide at the entrance; though at the upper part, forming the
mouth of Bynoe Harbour, it is not half that width. The latter winds round
to the South-East for a distance of 15 miles, with an average width of
two, and a depth of nine fathoms. Thus terminated our exploration in this
neighbourhood; the result having been to give this part of the coast
quite an insulated character. The sheets of water creating this new
feature, although monotonous with their mangrove-lined shores, still
conveyed us many miles into various parts of the continent that had never
before been seen by a civilized being.
Another opening of far greater magnitude, and promising in all
probability to lead far into the interior now lay before us, at a
distance of 140 miles further on the coast to the south-west. By the
evening we had lost sight of the land near Port Patterson, and were
steering towards the opening that promised so much. A gap in the
coastline, 28 miles wide, with a strong tide passing to and fro, failed
not to give birth to endless speculation as we approached the spot. I had
always looked forward to the examination of this unexplored portion of
the North-west coast, as one of the most interesting parts of our survey.
REACH POINT PEARCE.
In consequence of light north-west and westerly winds, our approach was
tantalizingly slow, and we did not enter the opening until the evening of
the 9th, when we passed four miles from the north point, called by
Captain King, Point Pearce. His visit to this part of the coast was in
September 1819, and under very adverse circumstances; his vessel had but
one anchor left, and the strong easterly winds then prevailing, with
thick hazy weather, rendered his progress into the opening both difficult
and hazardous: after a trial of two days, and having several narrow
escapes from getting on shore, he bore away to examine the coast to the
south-west, where he was repaid for his disappointment by the discovery
of Cambridge Gulf.
Thus did the exploration of this wide and interesting opening fall to our
good fortune; as we proceeded inwards, several beautiful medusae passed
the ship, and our hopes were roused to the highest pitch by the muddy
appearance of the water. At sun set the anchor was dropped in five
fathoms; Point Pearce, a cliffy level projection, bearing North-West by
North five miles, and about one and a half from a low rocky point.
FOSSIL HEAD.
A bluff projection, bearing South 65 degrees East seven miles, bounded
our view to the southward, and a range of sugarloaf hills, the highest
being 350 feet, rose about eight miles in the rear of it.
October 10.
We were naturally very anxious to proceed, and as soon as there was
sufficient light to read the division of the bearing compass, the ship
was gently stealing onward in the direction of the bluff, and furthest
land seen last evening to the South-East. We had not proceeded far before
we discovered a distant level range, beginning to show itself to the
right of this projection, adding still more to the zest with which we
pursued our search. The tide, however, making against us, and the wind
gradually failing, we were compelled to anchor abreast, and distant three
quarters of a mile from the north-west point of a bay two miles wide.
The bluff headland, before alluded to, forms the south-east point of this
bay, and to which Captain Wickham and myself hastened instantly the ship
was secured.
We found a few fossils on the side of this ridge, as we ascended, which
at once induced us to name it, Fossil Head. Our view was decisive of the
fact, that all further progress eastward was at an end, but to the south
sandbanks and patches of dark-coloured water bounding our view left still
great hope. The high land terminated abruptly to the southward, whilst
looking to the northward it appeared to subside in an East-North-East
direction. The base of this range was fronted by a low piece of land,
stretching out on its north-west side, and forming a point which bore
South 35 degrees East five miles from Fossil Head.
TABLE HILL.
But the most remarkable feature in the scene was an isolated flat-topped
hill, having all the appearance of a bastion or fortress, rising abruptly
from the surrounding plain, to an elevation of 650 feet, the upper part
being a line of cliffs, greatly adds to the appearance it presents, that
of a complete fortification. It bore North 85 degrees East, fourteen
miles from Fossil Head; and the country between was very low, and
intersected by a creek about midway. This remarkable piece of land is
called in the chart Table Hill; an inlet trended in towards the foot of
it.
We noticed several old traces of natives; the country in the
neighbourhood was of a stony desolate character, yet appeared to afford
nourishment for a small growth of white gums. After examining two
mangrove creeks of no importance, in the north-west corner of the bay
fronting the ship, we returned.
Our hopes of finding a river of some magnitude were not in the least
destroyed from what we had seen from Fossil Head, and the southerly
direction of the flood-stream fostered our belief. Independent of these
signs, we felt that we were again entering upon a new part of the
continent, and the thoughts thus engendered acted like a powerful
stimulant, so that we were not easily cast down.
The tide serving badly, and the day being far advanced, it was decided
that we should not move the ship till next morning, when after getting
abreast of Fossil Head, we steered from it on the bearing of the
deep-water channel we had seen yesterday. We proceeded cautiously,
feeling our way with the boats ahead. After passing some distance along
the eastern side of a long dry sandbank, we were obliged again to anchor,
both boats signalizing a depth of only two fathoms.
FIND A CHANNEL FOR THE SHIP.
Table Hill bore North 46 degrees East, fifteen miles, and Fossil Head
North 15 degrees West. It was now necessary to find a channel for the
ship, which I succeeded in doing the next day, and on that following, the
12th, Captain Wickham, Mr. Bynoe, and myself, went to visit the high
table range, while Messrs. Fitzmaurice and Keys were to examine the large
inlet running in towards the foot of Table Hill.
By following a creek we almost reached the foot of the high level range
in the boat; a line of cliffs stretched along near the summit, beneath
which it sloped down rapidly to the plain. We ascended by a slight
valley, communicating with a break in the cliffs, but found on reaching
the top that instead of being on a level, we were standing amidst a
series of undulations or low hills, forming the crest of a platform, but
so blended together, and of so nearly the same height as to appear in the
distance one continuous plain. It was, therefore, with some difficulty
that we could find the highest part, each, until we reached it, appearing
to be so. Ultimately I was compelled to climb a tree, in order to obtain
the necessary angles.
VIEW FROM TABLE HILL.
The view was very extensive, a wide inlet separating the range we stood
on from other high land trending southward, with great irregularity, from
the base of which stretched out a long plain, similar to that which lay
at our feet. The latter was intersected by creeks that could be traced by
the mangrove fringe which marked their course. Many parts of the low
lands were covered with a salt incrustation, and here and there were
scattered trees deposited by the overflows of the water, that still
appeared to flow from the southward. The sight of this driftwood and many
minor appearances, was indeed most welcome, and added full confirmation
to the opinion that we were now within the mouth of a large river.
To the South-West, and distant thirteen miles, were two large islands,
which from the remarkable shape of two patches of trees on their northern
ends, we named Quoin and Clump Islands. A small patch of low land was
discovered beyond them, between which and Quoin Island appeared the
proper channel. That, however, lying between the islands seemed
sufficiently large for the ship. Being moreover within our immediate
reach, it was determined that we should proceed by it.
MACADAM RANGE.
A remarkable change here occurred in the character of the country, the
hills being now composed of a white, and very compact kind of sandstone.
In the cliffs the strata were very marked, dipping to the South-East at
an angle of about thirty degrees with the horizon. The base and sides of
these heights were thickly strewn with small fragments of sandstone. The
appearance presented was precisely similar to that of a new road, after
it had undergone the improving process invented by Mr. McAdam, in whose
honour, therefore, we named this McAdam Range.
A large light-coloured kangaroo was the only living thing we saw. A short
green-looking grass was thinly sprinkled over the country, imparting a
freshness to it, which, in contrast with the aridity that had of late
surrounded us, was quite delightful.
Crossing the flat on returning to the boat, I was much struck by one
particular spot on the border of a creek. I came suddenly upon a number
of flat stones placed in rows, one upon the other. Though altogether
covering about ten yards of ground, there was no appearance of any shape
in their arrangement. I am still puzzled, to determine whether they were
merely the results of childish amusement, or had performed their part in
some magical incantation or religious ceremony of the natives. I am the
more inclined to think it was the latter, as there was a native grave
near, covered with the same kind of flat stones, to the height of about
three feet. We had not before observed anything like it, neither did we
afterwards. Several flights of large curlews were seen passing over the
boat, and resting on the flats in its neighbourhood. Whilst endeavouring
to procure some of them, I was placed in a sufficiently awkward position,
running the risk of becoming myself a fresh meal instead of procuring
one.
NARROW ESCAPE FROM AN ALLIGATOR.
I had stripped to swim across a creek, and with gun in hand was
stealthily crawling to the outer edge of the flat where my intended
victims were, when an alligator rose close by, bringing his unpleasant
countenance much nearer than was agreeable. My gun was charged with shot,
and the primitive state of nudity to which I had just reduced myself,
precluded the possibility of my having a second load. To fire therefore
was useless, and to retreat difficult, for I had wandered from the boat
some distance across the bank, on which the water was fast rising.
Thought, there was no time for, and before my companions could have
reached me, the tide would have flooded the place sufficiently to enable
the alligator to attack me at a disadvantage. My only chance of escaping
the monster was to hasten back to the boat, and to cross the last creek
before the alligator, who appeared fully aware of my intentions. It was
now, therefore, a mere matter of speed between us, and the race began. I
started off with the utmost rapidity, the alligator keeping pace with me
in the water. After a sharp and anxious race, I reached the last creek,
which was now much swollen; while the difficulty of crossing was
aggravated by my desire to save my gun. Plunging in I reached the
opposite shore just in time to see the huge jaws of the alligator
extended close above the spot where I had quitted the water. My
deliverance was providential, and I could not refrain from shuddering as
I sat gaining breath upon the bank after my escape, and watching the
disappointed alligator lurking about as if still in hopes of making his
supper upon me. Waiting till the monster came close, I took a deliberate
aim at his eye, which had only the effect of frightening him a little.
The wind, which was light, blew from the North-East from sunset last
evening until noon, being the first land-wind we had yet experienced. The
temperature remained nearly the same as at Port Patterson, the maximum
being here 86, and the minimum 81.
October 13.
We got on board about noon, and the next day Mr. Fitzmaurice returned. He
had found Table Hill to be a perfect natural fortress, accessible only at
the South-East corner by a slight break in the line of cliffs surrounding
it; the large inlet terminated in a creek passing close at the southern
foot of the hill, where it branched off in an east and north-east
direction, and in the course of three miles, became lost at the western
extremity of some low thickly-wooded plains, which extended eastward as
far as the eye could reach. To the south lay McAdam Range, which
declining to the eastward, was at length blended with the plain, the eye
finding some difficulty in determining where the hills ended and the
plain commenced.
HOPES OF DISCOVERING A RIVER.
All the soundings and other data for the chart, in the immediate
neighbourhood, were collected by the 16th, when the ship was got
underweigh, as soon as the tide, which here rose twenty feet, was high
enough. After passing through a channel, six and seven fathoms deep,
which the dry extreme of the sandbank fronting the flat, extending off
McAdam Range, bearing South-South-East led through, we hauled over to the
westward for a swash way in the sands, extending off the north-west end
of Clump Island. In crossing the inlet, running under the south end of
McAdam Range, we found as much as ten fathoms, a depth that led to the
hope of its being of great importance, perhaps indeed the mouth of a
river. Passing between Clump and Quoin Islands, we anchored midway
between the latter and Driftwood Island, a proceeding which the approach
of high-water rendered necessary, as from the great fall of the tide we
were obliged at that time to have at least seven fathoms. We were now
surrounded on all sides by flat shores, and from the masthead, I could
trace the low land forming the western side of the principal channel. The
high land south of McAdam Range, was found to terminate in a remarkable
peak, which in the certainty of our search proving successful, we named
River Peak. It was almost blended in one with a range beyond, yet the
fact of the distance which really existed between them, did not escape
our anxious observation; and it was indeed in the different shade of
these two ranges, one being less distinct than the other, that we found
ample confirmation of our hopes.
PREPARATIONS FOR EXPLORING.
It was soon arranged that Captain Wickham and myself, should at once
dispel all doubts, and that next morning, Messrs. Fitzmaurice and Keys
should start to explore the river-like opening, under the south end of
McAdam Range, to which we have above alluded.
DISCOVERY OF THE VICTORIA.
Our preparations were rapidly made, a few days provisions were stowed
away in the boat, and as the western sky glowed red in the expiring light
of day, the gig was running before a north-west breeze, for the chasm in
the distant high land, bearing South 20 degrees East, twelve miles from
the ship. As we advanced, the separations in the range became more marked
and distinct, as long as the light served us, but presently darkness
wrapped all in impenetrable mystery. Still we ran on keeping close to the
eastern low land, and just as we found that the course we held no longer
appeared to follow the direction of the channel, out burst the moon above
the hills in all its glory, shedding a silvery stream of light upon the
water, and revealing to our anxious eyes the long looked-for river,
rippling and swelling, as it forced its way between high rocky ranges.
Under any circumstances the discovery would have been delightful, but the
time, the previous darkness, the moon rising and spreading the whole
before us like a panorama, made the scene so unusually exciting, that I
forbear any attempt to describe the mingled emotions of that moment of
triumph. As we ran in between the frowning heights, the lead gave a depth
of eighteen and twenty fathoms, the velocity of the stream at the same
time clearly showing how large a body of water was pouring through. "This
is indeed a noble river!" burst from several lips at the same moment;
"and worthy," continued I, "of being honoured with the name of her most
gracious majesty the Queen:" which Captain Wickham fully concurred in, by
at once bestowing upon it the name of Victoria River.
A glance at the map will show that we have not overrated its importance,
or acted hastily in calling it the Victoria; and it must be admitted that
as the Murray is to South-eastern Australia, so in value and importance
is the great river Victoria, to the opposite side of the continent.
Pursuing our course between the rocky heights, in a south-east direction,
the outline of a high peaked hill, standing between two ranges, became
visible, appearing, even at that time, so remarkable as to be named
Endeavour Hill.* The wind failing, we pushed into a small opening out of
the stream, on the right hand, to pass the night.
(*Footnote. Afterwards found to be 690 feet, the highest in the
neighbourhood.)
VIEW FROM LEADING HILL.
Anxious to trace further the course of the river, Captain Wickham and
myself ascended the top of a neighbouring hill before early dawn. The
view which presented itself when the day broke, was fraught with every
charm of novelty. A rapid stream passing between barren rocky heights,
here stealing along in calm silence, there eddying and boiling as it
swept past, lay at our feet. By a sudden bend two miles east of where we
stood, it was hid from our view; the ranges overlapping, however, still
pointed out the further course of the Victoria. The boat lay in the mouth
of a creek, which communicating with another four miles further down,
formed an island on the eastern side of the river, which we called
Entrance Isle.
The formation of this part was a sandstone of a reddish hue, and in a
state of decomposition. A wiry grass and the never-failing eucalyptus
were sparingly scattered over the face of the country, which round the
entrance had a most unpromising and dreary appearance, showing at a
glance its utterly sterile character.
EXPLORATION OF THE RIVER.
Taking a hasty breakfast, we pulled up the river; the tortuous nature of
the first reaches, changing their directions suddenly from north to
east-south-east with a depth of seventeen and twenty fathoms, produces
violent eddies and whirlpools. Passing these, a splendid sheet of water
lay before us, trending south-east by south, as far as the eye could
reach from the boat, and more than a mile wide. In the first part of this
we had a few shoal casts of the lead, but afterwards the depth was eight
and ten fathoms, it being near low-water. In order to catch a glance at
what was beyond, and to spell the oars, we landed at a point on the east
side, from which Endeavour Hill bore West 1/2 South three miles. Here the
river, by taking a slight turn more to the southward, was again lost
sight of. We were sorry to perceive that it was much occupied by shoals,
that showed themselves at this time of tide. The first began five miles
beyond our station, commencing from abreast of a rugged ridge, on the
west bank. The singular manner in which the blocks of sandstone were
strewed over this height, caused it to bear a strong resemblance to old
ruins. The appearance of the country had not as yet improved, though the
sandstone had lost that reddish hue we had noticed in the morning, while
preserving the very marked dip to the south-east.
Continuing we found the change in the direction of the river very slight,
and at the end of sixteen miles it suddenly turned off to the eastward,
which I was sorry to find, as its diverging from its original
south-easterly direction, appeared likely to disappoint our expectation
that the Victoria would prove a highroad to the interior of the
continent. The width had hitherto been almost two miles, but there was
not sufficient depth to give us any hope of bringing the ship up thus
far.
APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY.
The country now began to assume a more cheerful aspect. The hills
exhibited no longer the same rugged outline, and were better clothed with
vegetation. From the top of one of a conical group, forming the north
point of the river where it changes to the eastward, I could trace its
direction but little further.
On the opposite side the hills receded, forming an amphitheatre round a
level plain, through which ran a creek. On its banks, for the first time,
we saw fires of the natives. Here, also for the first time, we noticed
the gouty-stem trees; whilst the slope of the hill we ascended was
covered with a tolerable sprinkling of grass. Kangaroos, likewise, were
observed on every side springing along the turf; and a few great
alligators passed up the stream, after reconnoitering our boat at the
risk of a shot or two.
We were now nearly thirty miles from the ship; and a few stations were
still necessary to be made to complete the survey so far. Our proceeding
farther was therefore useless, especially as an exploring expedition must
pass up the river; and retracing our steps we reached the ship near
midnight on the 20th. The intelligence of the success of our cruise was
received on board with an enthusiasm which explorers only can appreciate.
Mr. Fitzmaurice had not returned, which favoured my surmises that he
would find a river.
October 21.
Mr. Forsyth having collected all the necessary material for the survey
near the ship, we shifted our berth this afternoon into deeper water,
between the south end of Quoin Island and another small islet to the
south-west, which from our operations on its south-eastern corner we
called Observation Island. The weather was very remarkable in the
evening--dark patches of clouds appearing in the western horizon, from
which vivid lightnings flashed, and loud peals of thunder roared. The
frightened stream of the sea-birds evinced how seldom nature puts on such
an aspect in this place.
CAPTAIN WICKHAM ASCENDS THE VICTORIA.
Before proceeding further with the ship, it was necessary to feel our way
with the boats. Whilst this was going on, Captain Wickham determined on
pushing up the river in the gig to ascertain if it was fresh sufficiently
near to water the ship from, when she had been taken as far up the
Victoria as it was possible. He left next morning on this more than
interesting trip.
FITZMAURICE RIVER.
The same afternoon Mr. Fitzmaurice returned, having, as we had suspected,
discovered a river that carried his boat thirty miles in an east
direction from the south end of McAdam Range. Towards the upper part it
was scarcely half a mile wide; but for an Australian stream was
remarkably free from bends, pursuing a straight course between rocky
heights, with a depth varying from two to seven fathoms. Many shoals
occurred towards the entrance, where in some places it was more than two
miles wide. This river was named Fitzmaurice River after its discoverer;
and the mouth or inlet of it, after his companion, Keys Inlet.
In sounding the channel, I found that when the hill Captain Wickham and
myself were first on, behind Entrance Isle, was in a line with the north
end of the high land at the south side of the entrance, it formed a good
lead up. In consequence we named it Leading Hill, and the end of the
range alluded to, Indian Hill, from our constantly seeing smoke near it.
A flat of three or four fathoms at low-water extended across the channel,
with River Peak bearing between North 35 East and North 64 East. I
visited Indian Hill, but failed to meet with any of the natives, although
I saw their fires not far off in the hills to the south-west. It is a
ridge covered with blocks of sandstone, with a few trees here and there.
From its summit I had an extensive view of the low land stretching away
to the northward, and forming the western side of the channel. It
appeared so cut up with creeks as to form a mass of islands and mud
flats, which appeared from the quantity of drift timber, to be frequently
overflowed, and partially so apparently at high spring tides. The
farthest high land I saw bore west about twelve miles.
MEMORIAL ON INDIAN HILL.
I left here a paper in a bottle, giving an account of our proceedings,
and should have been sorry to think, as Wallis did when he left a similar
document on a mountain in the Strait of Magellan, that I was leaving a
memorial that would remain untouched as long as the world lasts. No, I
would fain hope that ere the sand of my life-glass has run out, other
feet than mine will have trod these distant banks; that colonization
will, ere many years have passed, have extended itself in this quarter;
that cities and hamlets will have risen on the banks of the new-found
river, that commerce will have directed her track thither, and that smoke
may rise from Christian hearths where now alone the prowling heathen
lights his fire. There is an inevitable tendency in man to create; and
there is nothing which he contemplates with so much complacency as the
work of his own hands. To civilize the world, to subdue the wilderness,
is the proudest achievement to which he can look forward; and to share in
this great work by opening new fields of enterprise, and leading, as it
were, the van of civilisation, fills the heart with inexpressible
delight. It is natural, therefore, as I traced the record of our visit
and deposited it on Indian Hill, that I should look forward in a mood
very far different from that of Wallis, to the speedy fruition of my
hopes.
October 27.
The winds for the last few days had been from West-North-West to
North-West, light after midnight to near noon, then moderate and
sometimes fresh. The tides, as they approached the springs, increased
their velocity, occasionally coming down in bores at the rate of four and
five knots.
RETURN OF CAPTAIN WICKHAM.
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