Volume II Part 38 (1/2)

Cape Wellington, the eastern projection of the Promontory, forms the north point of Waterloo Bay, which is wide and spacious These na there was the anniversary of one of the greatest triumphs ever achieved by British arms At the head of the bay, lies the low valley, three th, which stretches across the proh land On the northern side of it, the highest hill, Mount Wilson, rises abruptly until its woody crest reaches an elevation of 2350 feet On the southern, was a ridge strewn over with i eighty feet in height, and resting with such apparent insecurity, that little see into the valley below, along which a rivulet winds, and falls into the sea at the north end of a sandy beach, for the head of Waterloo Bay The depth in the middle of the latter is 12 fathoms, muddy bottom; it lies four ood anchorage between

SAIL FOR PORT DALRYMPLE

Fro the sule to the Crocodile Rock, and with others from the south-west end of the Pro, I deterer most satisfactorily

(Footnote This rock, in latitude 39 degrees 21 rees 41 minutes 45 seconds West of Sydney, lies in a line midway between the western extremities of Curtis and Rodondo Islands, nearly nine ranite boulder, just protruding above the surface; and in fine weather the sea runs over it without breaking The depth being 43 fathoms close to it, if the waters of the Strait were drawn off the shape of it would be that of a coluh)

As we had not, as I expected,of her, and crossing over to the south side of the Strait, for the purpose, entered Port Dalrymple, where I found that Mr Forsyth and his party had preceded our arrival by a day or two The Vansittart's employment had been the examination of the north-east extreme of Tasmania, some portions of which were found to be nine reater part was fronted with kelp and rocky patches The work, also, included a portion of Banks' Strait, and the southern part of the western side of Flinders Island, aood anchorages: the best in westerly winds being under Goose or Western Chappell Island, where a lighthouse was in course of construction

YORK TOWN

His Excellency, Sir John Franklin, requesting that I would send the Vansittart round to Macquarie Harbour, on the west coast, after a party of runaway convicts, ere for a time deprived of her services As the rise of the tide in the Ta the shi+p ashore, I took the opportunity of doing so on the west bank, just above Garden Island, to examine her bottom, and found it so defective that 130 sheets of copper were required towas coinal settleht just above us; I found it alinal settlers there; the chief part of the inhabitants were a lawless set, ere said to live, chiefly, by plunder

LAUNCESTON

Whilst the shi+p underwent these repairs, the triangulation was extended to Launceston, at the head of the Tae vessels are prevented froreatest difficulty found in navigating the river is Whirlpool Reach; near the middle of this lies a rock, an atte, was made; the top was blown off, so that now vessels are liable to be carried upon it, whereas, before, when it broke the surface, such was not the case

(Footnote The latitude of the Port office I found to be 41 degrees 26 rees 42 h water 3 hours 35the winter, after rains, the streaether at the rate of froh which the Taenerally steep and densely wooded; in some places, the reaches are wide, and the hills recede; on their lower slopes, near Launceston, are situated arden shrubberies; whilst further down are the straggling habitations of the more recent settlers, surrounded by clear patches, with difficulty won from the forest by the axe and the firebrand On the whole, therefore, it may be said that art and nature combine to render beautiful the scenery on the banks of this important stream

The first view of Launceston, the second town in Tasmania, is very pretty The valley of the river expands as you approach, and over a low tract of land on the east bank, the straggling h very healthy it lies on a kind of flat, backed with open woodland undulations at the junction of the North and South Esks; and, during the winter, is subject to fogs so dense that many persons well acquainted with the town frequently lose themselves Where the streams unite, they become the Tamar, one of the principal rivers in Tasmania At the distance of half a mile fronificant waterfall This for at Launceston are conducted, by a path which, winding along the face of a precipice, suddenly brings the cataract in sight, tu over the rocks into the pool, which seethes like a cauldron below, and sends up a stea mist into the air From the waters of the South Esk, the country around Launceston derives its fertility; and perhaps there is no part of our southern colonies that entlemen's seats, before alluded to, thickly scattered over an undulating country cleared of all tily suggested thoughts of home

GEORGE TOWN

When the weather per the survey of Port Dalrye Tohich we found to be in latitude 41 degrees 6 rees 23 minutes 44 seconds West of Sydney; variation 9 3/4 East This place is only a straggling village, situated on the east bank, about three miles and a half fro the north side of a snug cove at the western foot of a group of conical hills; on one of thenal station, by , comeological forhbourhood of this place will be found in Volume 1)

CRAGGY ISLAND

The entire month of July was occupied by the repairs of the shi+p, and the surveying operations; e sailed froe at the eastern entrance of the strait, between Craggy Island and Flinders, which we found perfectly free froreat importance, as it had, hitherto, been reported full of sunken rocks The Beagle passed a y Island in 25 and 28 fathoe has a depth of 26 and 27 fathoht's Rock and Kent Group the width is nearly eleven round between Craggy Island and Endeavour Reef, and the space intervening has, accordingly, been marked as one shoal in the chart

THE BEAGLE ORDERED HOME

Leaving the eastern entrance of the strait, we ran up to Sydney, for the supplies that had not arrived fro for us, together with orders for the Beagle to return to England Fortunately, however, the survey of Bass Strait was in such a forward state, thanks to Sir John Franklin's kind assistance in lending the Vansittart, that I could take upona few months to complete it I was, however, coent demand that existed for a correct chart of the whole strait, to work on a smaller scale than I could have wished It seee scale would be of far inferior utility to a complete survey on a comparatively small one

(Footnote This step was approved of by the Co prevented fro Bass Strait in the reatest part of the regret that accole to wend her way homewards; for ere thus also deprived of the opportunity of gratifying our desire to explore the southern parts of New Guinea, which we had always looked forward to as one of theelements of excite for home, and a character of novelty that would have aht have experienced Onthe heavy and hts of discovery refreshed our i to ourto them, but was borrowed from those hoped-for scenes of adventure on the unvisited shores of New Guinea to which we believed that each dull day's hard work brought us nearer But it was not destined to be our lot to add any raphy of this part of the world; and HMS Fly and Bra service in Australasia This expedition, under the command of Captain FP Blackwood, arrived at Sydney on the 10th of October, whilst ere there, and sailed soon after our departure, to co the outer Barrier Reefs, a service attended with no ordinary risk, but which has been happily completed, and a beacon erected to show vessels the best entrance, without a mishap

Since the early part of this ritten this valuable addition to the survey of New Holland has induced an enterprising e through Torres Strait As a proof of the practicability of this route I h Torres Strait in January, went to Sydney, and returned for another cargo to Ballytown, in Allas Strait, by the May following This passage, an account of which has been published in the Nautical Magazine, was h the Barrier Reef by Captain Blackwood's Beacon on Raines Islet; but as this is out of the lie, doubtless, would have been effected by following a more northerly route, as recommended by Captain Blackwood

(Footnote See Nautical Magazine for December 1845)

STEAM COMMUNICATION BETWEEN INDIA AND AUSTRALIA

With reference, however, to the anticipated stea Sydney within nearly sixty days of England, I think with Captain Blackwood that stea's inner route; and ht would be obviated by cautiously approaching, at reduced speed, the reefs, the position of which ht at the vessel's head or bowsprit end; when a course ht be shaped for the next and so on As the smooth water within the shelter of the Great Barrier Reefs affords facilities for steering with great nicety, a stea of fuel as well as ti