Volume II Part 10 (2/2)
Visit Rottnest
Fix on a hill for the site of a Lighthouse
Aboriginal convicts
Protectors of natives
Ao
Trees of Western Australia
On the safety of Gage Roads
SAIL FOR SWAN RIVER
Deceht I was sufficiently recovered to be able to bear the ly sailed in theout from Point Pearce we had a better view, than on our first approach, of the coast to the north of it; trending in a North 11 degrees East direction It had a sandy appearance and was fronted with a rocky ledge at loater, with one or two remarkable bare sand patches, four or five ht at loater) ten miles west from Point Pearce In the afternoon we stood to the ard, in very even soundings of 15 fathoms
On the 13ththe white cliffs of Cape Rulhieres, which, like Point Pearce, we found to be four ned position On the 14th and 15th ere beating to the ith a light and variable wind
SAHUL SHOAL
Our progress was slow, the ht; we therefore stood to the northward, to find a , to get soe dotted space in the chart, bearing the name of the Great Sahul Shoal We desired also to ascertain the extent of the bank of soundings extending off this part of the Australian continent, which here approaches to within 245 s varied, according to the boards we made over it, fro a kind of coral, with bits of ironstone reen sandyon the north-west, near the centre of the eastern part of the supposed Sahul Shoal, the water shoaled suddenly to 16 fathoms, from 68, a mile to the south-east The helm was put down, and when in stays there were only 14 1/2 The position of this patch is in latitude 11 degrees 8 1/2off South by East, in two miles the water deepened to 72 fathoain got into 60 fatho the Australian shore, and approaching within a hundred miles of the south end of Timor This bank appears to be separated fro the Sahul Shoal by a deep gap or gut, in which the depth generally was above 70 fathoh in part of it, in latitude 11 degrees 36 rees 53 minutes East, there was no bottoe round the World, mentions that he crossed several parts of the Sahul Shoal on his passage from Timor to Raffles Bay, and never found less than 14 fathoms
On the 20th, at noon, we had no bottoitude 124 degrees 52 e to say, though apparently in the very heart of the ht breeze frooverned by the wind, I ed its direction from North-North-East to West
SCOTT'S REEF
On the 24th, several water-snakes were seen, and in the afternoon, with a light north-ind, we passed about six miles from the north end of Scott's Reef, which we placed a few miles to the ard of its position in the chart, and of which we shall take another opportunity of speaking
(Footnote One of the discoveries of Captain Peter Heywood, RN)
Through God's mercy I was now so far recovered as to be able to crawl on the poop to see this reef, but soon found that I had overrated th: my back became affected; all power appeared to have deserted my limbs; and I suffered dreadfully Even to this day I feel the weakness in my back, particularly in cold weather, or when I atteht suddenly
Westerly winds, that increased as we got to the southward, brought us in sight of Depuch Island, a level lu of New Year's Day, and at 7 PM we tacked in 15 fathoms, about twelve miles North-West 1/2 North fro to ard in the neighbourhood of the coast, from which the bank appeared to extend sixty e
January 14, 1840
At noon, the saht us within fiftySouth-East by South On the saa herd of sper round to the east as we got to the south, forced us away from the land, so that from there our track to Swan River described two sides of an acute-angled triangle; the 24th placing us somewhat further than ere on the 14th, naot a favourable wind to take us in
DEATH AND BURIAL OF THE COOK
January 21
I loo, in consequence of the rigid hand of death having been laid on one of our e and bodily infirht, and at 10 AM we committed his body to the deep There is perhaps no place where the burial service has a more impressive effect than at sea; and in the present instance the grave demeanour of the whole crew attested that it was so The day too was gloo with the soleave the shi+p a steady keel Occasionally the beautiful prayers were interrupted by the roar of the foa on the breeze and s they afted, ould fain hope, to that peaceful hoe announced his passage into theno trace to mark the spot on the wave, which swept on as before
The wandering and strange life of the deceased beca the day, andanecdotes were recalled On one occasion he had passed a few days in a vessel that had been turned bottoht and shi+fting cargo, floated His only coroes, ith the apathy of their race, spent the principal part of the tih the vessel's botto up a stick with a handkerchief attached, that they were enabled to attract the attention of a passing shi+p, by whose people they were cut out Old Mitchell's propensity for fishi+ng was very singular Almost down to the last, when in his hammock under the forecastle, he would have a line passed to hi about; and he would catch at it as it was drawn through his fingers, until exhausted nature failing he fell into a lethargic sleep His situation latterly was peculiarly pitiable Worldly affairs and a future state were so painfully led, that it was ination predominated He evidently recoiled froe in the things of this life Even whilst in the pangs of death he could not conceive why he should be so cold, and why his feet could not be kept up to a heat which nature, in obedience to the dictates of infinite wisdo
We arrived at Swan River on the 31st, under circumstances which must forcibly illustrate to a landsated We had not seen land for fifty-two days, and were steering through a dense fog, which confined the circle of our vision to within a very short distance round the shi+p Suddenly the vapour for a moment dispersed, and showed us, not e's Road
We found a vast improvement in the colony of Western Australia since our last visit, and again experienced the greatest hospitality from the colonists To the assiduous attentions of my much valued friend, the Surveyor-General, Lieutenant Roe, RN, I in great aveaccount of an excursion he hadhis exploring expedition in the neighbourhood of Sharks Bay, with the sufferings and disastrous termination of which the public have already been e of the last-mentioned officer
LIEUTENANT ROE'S ACCOUNT OF THE RESCUE OF CAPTAIN GREY'S PARTY