Volume I Part 40 (1/2)

ARRIVE AT PORT ESSINGTON

As soon as the boats were hoisted up, we ton, and anchored there on the 15th of April

It was our intention to have concluded this volu account of the daring lish boy froes of Timor Laut, has fallen into our hands, and as doubtless it was the cause of the strange and suspicious reception the Britomart's boats met with on their second visit to Oliliet, we here lay it before our readers:

MR WATSON'S PROCEEDINGS AT TIMOR LAUT

Mr Watson had not been off the island long before his vessel, the schooner Essington, was surrounded by eleven armed canoes, for the purpose of attack The chief wished Mr Watson to go in and anchor, which he refused, but showed hie on their part The chief, thinking he could entrap hins of friendshi+p, and Mr Watson allowed him and his crew to come on board The chief then said that a white o and fetch him off, which was refused Mr Watson then laid out an iive for the white man, and desired the chief to send his canoe ashore to fetch hi, however, that he would retain him on board till the white ht, he would either hang or shoot the chief, and he had rope prepared for the purpose, as also a gun This manoeuvre had the desired effect on the chief, who immediately despatched his canoe to the shore For three days and nights Mr Watson was co to bring off Forbes Towards the close of the third day they brought off the boy, but would not put him on board until Mr Watson placed the rope round the chief's neck, when they ca Forbes up the side of the vessel, the chief jumped overboard into his canoe Mr Watson h he had deceived and wished to entrap hiood as their word; and not only gave the chief the promised wares, but also distributed some to each of the other ten canoes This line of conduct had a very good effect on the natives, who after receiving the goods expressed great joy, and as they were leaving kept up a constant cheer

Forbes at first appeared in a savage state, but after a short ti particulars relative to the loss of the Stedcombe, and the massacre of the crew: The Stedcombe, Mr Barns, master, arrived off the coast in the year 1823 Mr Barns having left her in charge of the mate, he and two or three others went ashore at Melville Island

(Footnote When at Sydney, in 1838, I met Mr Barns, who corroborated Forbes's account JLS)

The mate ran her into Timor Laut, and anchored; he then went ashore with the crew, leaving the steward, Forbes, and another boy, on board After they had been ashore a short tih a telescope to see what they were about, when he saw that the whole of the creere being massacred by the natives He immediately communicated that fact to the steward, and advised him to unshackle the anchor, and run out to sea, as the as froo about his business, and when he got on deck he found the vessel surrounded with canoes The natives came on board and ing, and in consequence of their expertness the natives were unable to catch thens for them to come down, and they would not hurt them They availed the their lives, and surrendered They were immediately bound, and taken on shore; a rope was fastened to the shi+p, her cable slipped, and the natives hauled her ashore, where she soon became a wreck Forbes states that several Dutchmen had called at the island, to whom he appealed for rescue, but they all refused to interfere; and latterly, whenever any vessel hove in sight, he was always bound hand and foot, so that he should have no chance of escape Both himself and the other boy had been made slaves to the tribes; his companion died about three years since The poor fellow is still in a very bad state of health; the sinews of his legs are very reat nus and body Fortunately for Forbes, Mr Watson had a surgeon on board the Essington, who immediately put him under a course of medicine, which, without doubt, saved his life; for, from the emaciated state in which he was received on board, it was impossible, without er Too much Fraise cannot be awarded to Mr

Watson for his exertions in rescuing this lad

APPENDIX

LIST OF BIRDS,

COLLECTED BY THE OFFICERS OF HMS BEAGLE,

DURING THE YEARS 1837 TO 1843

IchthyiAetus leucogaster

Ieracidea berigora

Astur approxius huus phalaenoides, Gould

Eurostopodus guttatus

Merops ornatus, Lath

Dacelo Leachii

Dacelo cervina, Gould

Halcyon macleayii, Jard and Selb

Alcyone azurea

Dicrurus bracteatus, Gould

Colluricincla cinerea, Gould

Pachycephala gutturalis

Pachycephalaand Horsf

Pachycephala lanoides, Gould

Artaenteus

Grallina Australis

Graucalus melanops

Graucalus albiventris

Pitta Iris, Gould

Oriolus viridis

Cincloso and Horsf

Malurusand Horsf

Malurus splendens

Malurus brownii, Vig and Horsf