Volume II Part 1 (2/2)

Brilliant Meteors

Natives on Point Emery

Their surprise at the well

Ies of Australia

Specimens

Remarks

Leave Port Darwin

Tides

Squall

Visit Port Patterson

Leave

Exa to the south-west

Table Hill

McAda party

Discovery of the Victoria

Ascend the river

Appearance of the Country

Fitzle taken up the river

LEAVE PORT ESSINGTON

Early on the le was once ht land wind We had taken a hearty farewell of our friends at Victoria, in whose prosperity we felt all the interest that is due to those who pioneer the way for others in the formation of a new settleht open a new field for British enterprise, and contribute to extend still s of civilization, increased the sy colony at Victoria There is always a feeling of pride and pleasure engendered by the thought that we are in any way instrumental to the extension of iven him to subdue In the present instance, the success of our last cruise and the state of preparation in which ere now in for a longer one, caused us to take our departure froher spirits than on the former occasion

Pass THROUGH CLARENCE STRAIT

We again shaped our course for Clarence Strait, the western entrance of which was still unexaht in Popha, had only six fathos nearly twothe south side of Melville Island, where a large fire was still burning Early in the evening we anchored in seven fathoms, to wait for a boat that had been sent to examine a shoal bay on the North-West side of Cape Keith Green Ant Cliffs bore South-West two ht we hauled up south, into the e of 5 1/2 fatho West-South-West five e appears to be thrown up at the extre the water to 10 and 12 fatho midway between North Vernon Isle and Cape Gah the whole of it is not available for the purposes of navigation, a long detached reef lying three miles from the Cape, and a small one two le past between these reefs with so 19 fatho quite in the centre of the western entrance of the Strait, are fringed with extensive coral reefs There are, however, deep passages between the cleared Clarence Strait, and found it to be perfectly navigable with coree enhanced the value of the discovery of the Adelaide) our course was directed for a bay to the southward, which Captain King had not exa cool north-westerly seabreeze had just succeeded a short cal four miles froular soundings of ten and seven fatho that they should be approached with caution on this side

(Footnote The seabreeze prevailing froe to Port Essington froht bealong the north side of Melville Island)

The ht at the head of a bay as we advanced towards it, steering South by East This opening began to appear of consequence as we drew near, although the singularly gradual decrease in the soundings, on a sandy botto the mouth of a river Still, e anchored as near as we could approach, there re so

HOPE INLET SHOAL BAY

Septe Mr Forsyth andWe soon discovered that it was nothingtwenty feet, gave it the i A tall clump of naked trees was conspicuous at the east entrance point, towering above the insipid ave it the nas it excited on its first discovery From the south point of Clarence Strait it is distant eleven miles, and the bay in which it lies, from the shalloater at the head of it, was called Shoal Bay

The boat being provisioned for four days, we pushed on to explore another opening above fifteenin early, we did not reach it till after dark, e landed for observations at a cliffy projection near the eastern entrance point: this we found to be composed of a kind of pipeclay, mixed with calcareous , and then in scraht of a lantern If any of the watchful natives happened at the time to be on the lookout, theysuch strange persons, who at such a ti their shores

EXPLORE A NEW OPENING

September 9

Before the veil of darkness was quite re; and the sight at daylight wasbetween thite cliffy heads, and stretching aithin to a great distance, presented itself to our view

Far to the southward, between the heads, rose a small table-topped hill

As we pulled in towards the eastern entrance point, the river-like appearance began to wear off,its appearance towards the head of the opening On reaching this point Mr Forsyth andFrohted to find large openings in the south-east and south-west corners of it The table hill before mentioned, stood on the point between them To see the eastern part of it, however, it was necessary to cross to the opposite point, where soth, was found imbedded in quartz The point was called in consequence, Talc Head