Volume II Part 24 (2/2)
I was surprised to find the tides an hour later than at Van Diemen's Inlet; their velocity, likewise, was increased to two knots; the flood-streae
FOWLER ISLAND
July 7
At daylight, we left for Sweers Island; but owing to light winds, chiefly easterly, did not reach Investigator Road, between Sweers and Bentinck Islands, before the afternoon of the 8th The soundings on the ere generally 9 fatho off the South-East side of Bentinck Island, and for the immediate eastern side of the Road, I naator, now Captain Fowler
Under Mount Inspection, a hill 105 feet high, and the most remarkable feature hereabouts, on the South-East extreme of Sweers Island, a party of twelve natives was observed as we passed They gazed silently at us, er, or surprise It is possible they may have been stupefied by the appearance of that wonderful creation of enuity--a shi+p; in their eyes itthe waters, for purposes to them incomprehensible, on a mission to the discovery of which they could not even apply the limited faculties they possessed Fortunately or unfortunately for the as we deterinal races of the South--they did not possess the fatal, or salutary, curiosity that pro the depth of whatever is norant, or philosophical indifference, they did not again show theht we heard sounds of life in our vicinity, the natives of the island never again came under our observation It is remarkable that the same circus at a distance; but when he endeavoured to communicate with them, they retired, as he mentions, to some of the caverns that exist on the island, and were seen no more
SWEERS ISLAND
Sweers Island appeared to be very woody, and bounded by low dark cliffs on the north-east side We found a long extent of foul ground, with a dry reef near its outer end, extending off two rees East direction froe was in 5 1/2 fathoms, nearly abreast of a remarkable and solitary sandy point on the above-able width between this and Fowler Island was found to be one mile, and the depth 4 and 5 fathoms
INVESTIGATOR'S WELL
A party was iator's well
Previous to landing, the whole island appeared to be perfectly alive with a dense cloud of s the shore, proved to be locusts in countless nu a coround in such prodigious flights at each footstep that ere absolutely prevented fro any of the quails hich the island abounds This annoyance, however, was only experienced for the first day or two, as the locusts winged their flight to Bentinck Island, leaving the trees only laden with them; out of these they started, when disturbed, with a rushi+ng noise like surf on a pebbly beach
FLINDERS' WELL
The Investigator's old as discovered half a ave the na discovery we made of the name of Flinders' shi+p cut on a tree near the well, and still perfectly legible, although nearly forty years old, as the reader will perceive from the woodcut annexed On the opposite side of the trunk the Beagle's naood fortune to find at last soe, which at once invested the place with all the charave it an interest in our eyes that words can ill express All the adventures and sufferings of the intrepid Flinders vividly recurred to our reat continent, his imprisonment on his way home, and cruel treatment by the French Governor of Mauritius, called forth renewed syly that the first river we discovered in the Gulf should be named the Flinders, as the tribute to hisin his humble follower to bestow, and that which wouldhis services on this side of the continent Monu as the world
Being desirous of ascertaining if now, in the dry season, water could be obtained in other parts of the island, I ordered a well to be dug on the extre a shi+p, and at a depth of 25 feet h a rock of concreted sand, pebbles, and shells
Our success may be attributed, as Flinders says, to the clayey consistence of the straturavelly rock upon which that stratu the evaporation of the rains, and the other obstructing their further infiltration
INVESTIGATOR ROAD
This was a very ie for vessels of all sizes at the head of the Gulf in either monsoon, and possesses an equal supply of wood, fish, and birds, with turtle close at hand on Bountiful Islands Moreover, should an expedition be for the interior from the head of the Gulf, it is, as Flinders re the absence of the travellers” In addition to this, it is a point at which an expedition would first arrive to arrange plans for the future; and lastly, I should observe that in case of our being fortunate enough to find rivers or fertile country on the southern shores of the Gulf, we at once saw that we ator Road should be the port fro parts of the continent must be shi+pped, and when it should bear on its shores the habitations of civilizedspires of the Christian Church The feeling that we s by discovering a country habitable by Europeans, greatly added to the zest hich we prosecuted our subsequent researches
(Footnote This road fully deserves the nath by one in breadth, with a depth of from 4 to 6 fathoms, and sheltered at all points except from south to South-South-East, in which direction the shoalness of the water prevents any sea frohing these considerations in my e, including Sweers and the eastern portion of Bentinck Island; and to despatch two boats to exaroup of islands to the north-west, and the mainland from thence to abreast of the south-west end of Bentinck Island On the ly, Messrs Forsyth and Parker proceeded with the whaleboats on this service
Near Point Inscription, I found a native skull on the shore, with forearm, left tibia, and a portion of the inferior maxillary They must have been exposed some time, as they were very nearly destroyed by the action of the air How they could have co indicating a place of burial
On the eastern Point of Bentinck Island a nuested the name of Raft Point We also on one occasion perceived sohest land in the neighbourhood, becalirees West about eighteen miles The north-eastern end of the island, also, could be seen, fronted with rocky ledges extending three quarters of a mile off This hill is a h parts of Bountiful Island, with the same honeycombed surface, as if it had been exposed to the action of the sea In other parts of the island there is a great quantity of ironstone; and the cliffs on the eastern side are mixed with this and pipe-clay; on the northern extreme are some lakes or swamps
SOIL, ETC OF BENTINCK ISLAND