Volume I Part 11 (1/2)
Appearance of the adjacent land
Return on foot
Perilous situation and providential escape
Survey the western shore
Return to the shi+p
Sporting, Quail and Emus
Natives
shi+p moved to Point Torment
February 21, 1838
We ree until the 21st, by which tiham, had been carefully examined We found it everywhere indented with deep bays, in each of which good anchorage was to be found The water's edge was in alrove trees, behind which the country gradually rose to an average level of about 200 feet, being thickly covered with the various sorts of Eucalypti, for which all the explored portions of this continent are more or less remarkable
In the afternoon of the 21st, we ham, and anchored in 8 fatho passed over a bank of 5 or 6 fatho 2 1/4 haht on shore, a circunity, and in a state ofbut placid The poet doubtless spoke from experience when he asserted:
--there was never yet philosopher That could endure the toothache patiently
And even could such a prodigy of patient endurance be found, I am sure it would fail him when exposed to the ceaseless persecution of these inexorable assailants
February 22
The greater part of to-day was spent ina more minute exa a more careful search necessary Froham, I had a fine view of the opposite shore of the sound; very broken and rugged it appeared to be To the South-East and south I could see no land; a circu in that direction the long and anxiously expected river, which the geological formation of the country, and all the recorded experience of discovery, alike warranted us in anticipating
The point upon which I stood was a steep and cliffy rock facing the sea, connected with the mainland by a low and narrow neck of land, but alular cliff, projecting on its South-East side, is called by Captain King, Carlisle Head; but we searched in vain for the fresh water, which that distinguished navigator speaks of, as having been found there by him in 1819
SINGULAR VITREOUS FORMATION
We remarked here, certain vitreous formations, in all, except for been seen at Point Swan
These were s loose on the sandy beach, at the bottolazed upon the surface, hollow inside, and varying in size from a musket, to a tennis ball
(Footnote Vide Mr Darwin on ”superficial ferrugineous beds” Geology of Volcanic Islands page 143)
February 23
We weighed early in the ain at 10 o'clock AM, 8 miles north of it, in 7 fathoms (loater); West by North, one mile fro, in memory of the difficulties which ulti coast, Foul Point, marks the limit of his survey of this part of the northern shore of Australia, and tere of cliffs, which, up to this point, forainst the sea Beyond it, the coast assumes a low and treacherous character, and subsides into a deep bay, called by Captain King, not without reason, Disaster Bay
(Footnote The cliffs at Foul Point and Point Cunninghaillaceous foret a wide view of the unknoaters ere about to explore, I could just see Valentine Island, bearing South-South-East about 17visible, it had the appearance of two islands
Here, then, a really --portion of the duties of the survey were to commence in earnest; and it was reserved for us to take up the thread of discovery reluctantly abandoned by our enterprising and scientific predecessor, at the rasp
EXPLORING PARTY IN BOATS
It was forthwith determined, that Captain Wickham and Mr Fitz the survey, and preparing the chart of the bay in the ihbourhood of the shi+p; while to myself the whale boat and yaere to be entrusted; nor can I describe hat delight, all otten, I prepared to enter upon the exciting task of exploring waters unfurrowed by any preceding keel; and shores, on which the advancing step of civilization had not yet thrown the shadows of her advent, nor the voice of that Christianity, which walks by her side through the uttermost parts of the earth, su hour, in the fulness of which all the earth shall be blessed!