Volume I Part 34 (1/2)

The land near the huts was turned up in search of roots, and close by were sorees, producing the novel though pleasant sensation of cold

July 27

Although apparently we could trace the land, near the head of the opening or bay, still the great set of tide in that direction, left hopes of its being the mouth of a river We have already alluded to the difficulty of detecting the endered occasioned the greater anxiety

Impatient to learn the truth, Mr Fitzmaurice was despatched to examine the head of the bay, whilst the shi+p was ain one mile North-West from a very re circumstances, hereafter to be related, were called Escape Cliffs) and only two cables length distant froe, by which this and the shores around were fronted

VISIT THE Shore

Here another party visited the shore, and those whose occupation did not render their presence necessary near the water, strolled into the country, penetrating about four or five ht of no novelty, or even variety in the scenery, beyond as presented to our view on the visit to Cape Hothah Indeed it will in general be found, that in Australia, a change of formation is necessary to produce any of the scenery, which otherwise exhibits a most ravel was (if I may use the terlazed appearance on the surface, being holloithin, and about the size of athey are coinous sandstone, but they have been already haeneral formation is the same as at Cape Hothaton A few traces of s thing two miles from the beach This peculiarity the reader will re's Sound

DISCOVERY OF ADELAIDE RIVER

On returning to the shi+p we found that Mr Fitzratifying intelligence, that a large river with two branches, running South-East and South, with a depth of four fathoms, emptied itself into the head of the bay The joy a discovery of this nature i a country so proverbially destitute of rivers as Australia, is ined than described It for, rousing our energies, and giving universal delight The castle-builders were immediately at work, with expectations beyond the pale of reason

EXPLORING PARTY

An exploring party, however, was at once for of Captain Wickha Sunday--did not leave before theof the 29th, with two boats and four days' provisions

Many were the anxious and envious looks bestowed on the party as they left the shi+p on the deeply interesting service of exploring the new river So strong and native is s are never more tried than when on the brink of a discovery, while those who are in presence of the novelty, and cannot enjoy the satisfaction of tasting that pleasure, ret

There was no difficulty in finding a name for a river which fell into Clarence Strait; it was at once, therefore, honoured with that of Adelaide, after her er The bay that receives its waters was called after Vice-Ad part of the south side of Clarence Strait, together with the islands in the western entrance of it, gave a employment as the exploration of the Adelaide, to those ere left behind Several unsuccessful hauls werevery scarce

NATIVE FAMILY

Near Escape Cliffs Iof an elderlyalone, I contrived to get near enough to make the woaveacross her back I at length drew all the fa the , sticking through the cartilage of his nose His teeth and those of the other children were quite perfect, but in the father and one, as we before noticed was the case with the natives at Port Essington, where this ceree The hair of these people was neither curly nor straight, but what I have before called crisp, being of that wavy nature sometimes noticed in Europeans

They had with theht brown colour, of which they appeared very fond, and I could not induce them to part with them

The oldstick of the saton The wo over her neck, as before re their bodies

CURIOSITY AND FEAR

These people exhibited ines, as I was able to induce them to visit the whaleboat that was on shore close by Here, as in other places, the size of the oars first astonished theeness of the boat itself The exclaazed on the work; suddenly a loud shout would burst froe of countenance in this wild savage with interest; all his motions were full of matter for observation The mixed curiosity and dread depicted in his dusky face, the feeling of secret alar in his native wilds, which he must have experienced, added th almost persuaded the old man to accompany me on board; he even put one foot in the boat for the purpose, when seeing the depth of the interior, he recoiled with a slight shudder, as if from immersion in cold water He was now overwhelmed by the woman and elder child with entreaties not to take such a rash step, and their rude eloquence succeeded

It was ale between fear and curiosity plainly depicted in the man's face, as he stood with one foot on the boat, and the other on the shore, hearkening but too credulously to the picture of danger, forcibly drawn by his friends, while curiosity, with al him to dare the perils of the white man's boat

A desire to be better acquainted with the strangers who had coe bird--such being their strange idea of a shi+p, the sails fors--no doubt materially influenced him; but the eloquence of his relatives prevailed over all; and this interesting interview ter the shore without our sable friend, who, however, promised to visit the shi+p in an old bark canoe, about 20 feet long, that was lying on the beach near at hand This pro, a canoe was seen paddling off, containing two young natives in addition to the old man

They stopped at so round to view her on all sides

ATTEMPT TO ENTICE NATIVES ON BOARD

Fearing at last that their courage had failed, and that they would not cohy, our s only a boy besides myself in it

I had hoped that thus they would not be frightened, but they instantly began toto get near theth, however, I found o to the shi+p, a measure the other two did not at all approve of, as they kept edging away towards the land, whilst I gave the old ot between the canoe and the shore, when instantly a glea e square-headed fellow of ferocious aspect, whose countenance was lit up by a look of fierce revenge, as the canoe made towards the land, after I had ceased my endeavours to entice theined to be ourthe them would have so nearly led to fatal results I shall proceed to explain this re circumstances from which Escape Cliffs received their name

NARROW ESCAPE OF MR FITZMAURICE