INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR 1875. cxxxiii 



to await news from Sydney ; but after a time, in consequence 

 of some misunderstanding between the captain and the party 

 on board the vessel, returned to Australia, without having 

 accomplished the objects for which it started out. 



About the same time the missionary steamer Ellangowan, 

 having on board the Rev. Mr. Macfarlane, of the Straits 

 Mission, accompanied by a naturalist, left Sonierset for the 

 southwest coast of New Guinea, and on the 1st of September 

 reached the mouth of a large river, hitherto unknown, and 

 which they called Baxter River, being one of the finest in New 

 Guinea. Its mouth was one and a half miles wide, and the 

 depth nine to twelve fathoms. The position is said to be 9 8' 

 south latitude, 142 18' east longitude. At a distance of fif- 

 teen miles up the river it was fully half a mile wide, and the 

 depth of water seven fathoms. As the vessel proceeded up- 

 ward the river banks became bolder, and the timber as- 

 sumed a formidable growth. The river still continued wide 

 and deep, and at intervals was fed by tributaries of such size 

 and appearance as to render it a matter for much discussion 

 which stream to select. The up-river voyage extended to a 

 distance of ninety miles from the sea. Here they saw birds- 

 of-pa'radise, and killed a boa-serpent 15 -J- feet in length. A 

 gigantic bird, the spread of whose wings was supposed to be 

 15 to 16 feet, was started to flight, but could not be captured.* 

 The tracks of enormous wild animals were observed, one of 

 them supposed to be a species of buffalo. 



Further information in regard to Australia, Torres Strait, 

 the southwest of New Guinea, and the western islands of the 

 Luciad Archipelago, is furnished by the report of Captain 

 John Moresby and his companions, in the British steamer 

 Basilisk, which was engaged in 1873 and 1874 in surveying 

 these resrions. 



Captain Moresby remarks that the natives of the south- 



* These dimensions have probably been exaggerated, as D'Albertis has sent 

 home what is doubtless tbe same bird a species of eagle which, though 

 of great size, does not quite come up to the claims of the officers of the Ellan- 

 gowan. This has lately been described by Salvadori as Harpyopsis novce 

 guinece, closely allied to the Harpy eagles of South America, and, like them, 

 living on small mammals. It measures 35 inches in length : wing, 19 ; tail, 

 16J ; tarsus, 5| ; middle toe and claw, 3|. Annali del Mus. Civico di Ge- 

 nova, 1872, vii., 682. 



