Volume I Part 37 (1/2)

Their Arms and Ornaments

Carved Horns on Houses

Alarm of the Oran Kaya

Punishment of the Natives of Laarat by the Dutch

Revisit Oliliet

Discover that Mr Watson had rescued the European Boy

Return to Port Essington

Mr Watson's Proceedings at Timor Laut

In pursuance of orders froton on the 18th March, 1839, having on board, Captain Kuper (then 1st Lieutenant of HMS Alligator) and one of the Australian natives, as induced to accompany us, partly by his own curiosity, and partly by liberal promises and plenty to eat He was known at the settleood huence, was a favourite with everyone I hoped by keeping him on board for soree fro able to coht learn more of the manners and customs of his countrymen, than we had yet been able to do; in addition to which we anticipated no s countries and people so different fro the harbour till theof the 19th, and at 3 PM on the 20th, we norance of the coast, ere obliged to keep under easy sail during the night, which was squally with heavy rain

TIMOR LAUT PROAS

At daylight on the 21st, we made all sail to the northward, and about 10, observed two large proas, with Dutch colours flying, standing out from the land under sail; they were full of reat doubt, whether they should coether several times; at last, however, they came under our stern, which was the only way in which they could approach, as their long outriggers, projecting 10 or 12 feet on each side of their narrow canoes, prevented theot hold of the rope we gave them, they hauled close up, and a little thin shrivelled oldover the taffrail: he was dressed in a long black serge coat, check shi+rt, and black trousers, and as soon as he had regained his breath, after the violent exertions he hadsome papers which he seemed very anxious I should examine I took the able to understand thereat interest, found carefully rolled up in several envelopes, two pieces of lead pencil, part of the leaf of a Norie's Navigation Tables, and soh journal of the proceedings of the men who left the ill-fated Charles Eaton (soon after she recked in Torres Strait) in one of her cutters, in which they reached this island, and after re proa, and thence to Batavia, where they gave the following account of their misfortunes to the Resident, Mr DW Pietermaat

WRECK OF THE CHARLES EATON

The Charles Eaton sailed froust, about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, during a fresh full sail breeze, the vessel struck on a reef called the Detached Reef, situated at the entrance of Torres Strait

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CREW

During the preceding night the Captain, as a measure of prudence, had ordered the first reef to be taken in the topsails, in order not to enter the passage before daylight

The shi+p struck on the reef so violently, that both keel and rudder were instantly knocked off and carried away, and the Captain declared the vessel to be totally lost; at the saet the boats ready and furnished with provisions, in order to endeavour to reach the island of Timor

At the tiboat, two cutters, and a dinghy or sest cutter, W

Grindall, Laurent Constantine, and George Pigot, left the wreck, and Richard Quin, and Ja across a bar or reef at the risk of their lives

The other boats were knocked to pieces and lost, by the vessel falling over on her side, and they were unable to save any ers or crew, as it was i current; and none of them would venture a They were unable to state what becaers, and rest of the crew; but at the tiht left the wreck, all the passengers and creere alive on the forecastle of the vessel, with the exception of one sailor named James Price, as drowned by the s at the tiers on board at the tial Artillery, his wife, and two sons, George and Williaalese native servant

NAMES OF THE CREW

The shi+p's crew consisted of twenty-four persons: JG Moore, master; J

Clare, chief ott, third eon; L Constantine, carpenter; W Montgo, midshi+pmen; R Quin, A Quail, W Moore, C Robinson, J Caen, W Hill, J Berry, R Lounce, W Jeffrey, J Wright, W Gumble, J Miller, and W Williams, seamen; J Ireland and J sexton, boys

The five seanot perceiving a single person on the wreck, concluded that these unhappy persons had been washed off by the increasing swell of the sea during the night On Sunday ust 17th, they left the wreck, and steered as westerly a course as possible by the sun and stars--they had no co in the island of Timor The whole of their provisions consisted of 30 pounds of bread, one haallons of water; which had been placed in the boat before she was lowered

THE CUTTER REACHES TIMOR LAUT