Volume I Part 18 (2/2)
(Footnote So named by Lieutenant Grey to coeon of his party in finding a road from it to the interjacent country)
TIMOR PONIES
The encaularly upon a carpet of rich grass, whereon six Tiues of a journey in which they appeared to have borne their full share of privation and danger Their marketable value was indeed but small, and Lieutenant Grey had, therefore, determined to leave them behind in the unrestrained enjoyment of their natural freedom
My visit was made after the encaht that a little spot once tenanted by civilized man was about to be yielded to that dreary solitude froe awith such thoughts--the rugged and lofty cliffs which fron upon the valley--the flitting shadows of the watchful eagles soaring far overthe rocky htened the effects of a picture engraven on my memory too deeply for ti for eton up the valley, a little beyond the late encarass; near the banks of a beautiful pool in which we both enjoyed a freshwater bath, I noticed a small coconut tree, and some other plants, which he and his companions had benevolently endeavoured to naturalize here: they seeh, but I should fear the rank luxuriance of surrounding and indigenous vegetation will render the ultily doubtful assisted by our boats the whole party ehly delighted to find theain on board the schooner I was much impressed with the eton bid the shore a hearty farewell The sae the Fourth--thus affording us an opportunity of welcoers once htful evenings, known only to those who have been long separated from the rest of the world
LEAVE PORT GEORGE THE FOURTH
On the 9th we left Port George the Fourth on our return to Swan River, in company with the Lynher, in which Lieutenant Grey and his party had arranged to proceed to the Mauritius A finer port than this, in soined Like Hanover Bay, over which, however, it possesses the advantage of an easier access froe, abundance of fresh water, plenty of fuel, and a fine beach for the seine: but the nureatly reduce the value of both these harbours The Master of the Lynher toldhis protracted visit to Hanover Bay: he had noticed that the highest tides always occurred on the fourth day after the full or change of the ht of twenty-five feet; while during the neaps the difference between high and loater so the short ti winds were froht till noon, and froh the day was but slow; the wind light and ly foul at West-North-West
ISOLATED ROCK
While standing towards a s North and by West five and a half le rock with apparently deep water all around it, and just awash at loater It bore North-West and by West three-quarters of a mile fro's group of the Rocky Islands, in that calcined-like appearance which has by turns given them red and brown for a distinct appellation In the afternoonthe sandbank laid down in Captain King's chart; it appeared a white rocky islet The night was spent beating to the ard, between it and Red Island, against a light breeze
April 20
At daylight, whilst standing to the South-West the water shoaled rapidly though regularly fro South-East oneout (north) the water deepened suddenly and aline this shoal to be a continuation of one laid down by Captain King, extending twothe latter on our way to Port George the Fourth we had 28 to 30 fathoms, two and a half miles from its North-West side
April 21
We continued tothat ere still on the coral ledge that skirts the whole of this coast, northward of Cape Leveque; on the raised parts of which are nuular size and al from West to North-West The number of these low coral reefs already known, and the probable nuerous sea, and must have a tendency to lessen the value of the North-West coast of Australia for purposes of forain the reef discovered and na West-North-West we passed fourfrom 41 to 47 fathoms
REMARKABLE RIPPLINGS
April 23
Towards the close of this day we passed through a line of very re in a north and south direction, which we knew indicated soreat inequality in the bottom, but whether from deep to shoal water was a matter of some anxiety; therefore, with leads shi+p, we glided into this streak of agitated water, where plunging once or twice she again passed into the silent deep We sounded ineffectually with 86 fathos had been regular 52 and 55 fathoms fine sand, and four miles beyond it we had 146 fatho the bottom with 200 fathoe of the bank of soundings fronting this part of the coast, from which the nearest point, Cape Leveque, bore South-East 195to pursue a h reluctantly, obliged to part coether at sea were rendered very pleasant and a to each other as the vessels, side by side, slipped stealthily through thea West-South-West course, at the slow rate of forty rees 40the day we passed within fifteen miles of the Lively's reef, and from the numbers of terns and other small seabirds, seen for the last three days, there can be little doubt of its whereabouts being known, and that during that tihbourhood of other reefs still undiscovered
April 27
We experienced the long rolling swell of the Southern Ocean, which, as well as our reckoning, infor North-West Cape; at the saan to feel a steady breeze from the South-East and the northerly current which there prevails As ere now approaching the usual track of vessels bound from Australia to India, ere not unprepared for the soe sail: an object always of some little interest, but which becomes quite an event to those whose duty leads them into the less frequented portions of the deep
THE TRYAL ROCKS
The increasing trade now carried on between Sydney and the gorgeous East, has converted the dividing sea into a beaten track; and as no further evidence has been brought forward to confirm the reported existence of the Tryal Rocks, asserted to lie directly in the course steered by vessels 's opinion, that Tre reefs, situated in the same latitude as that in which the Tryal Rocks are supposed to lie, have originated the itude, in which particular the accounts of earlier navigators must always be received with caution
(Footnote Subsequent explorations have proved this to be the case)
ANECDOTES OF MIAGO