Observers' Field Reports 101 



along that part of the coast, as a base. The work of the expedition may then be divided 

 and each portion treated separate^ under the following heads : 



I. Victoria River by steamer and return overland. 



II. Bathurst and Melville islands by lugger. 



III. West coast of Gulf of Carpentaria by steamer. 



IV. East Alligator River by government boat. 



V. Cape Wessel and north coast points by open launch. 



I. At Darwin I learned that the government coastal steamer Leichhardt was leaving 

 at once for Victoria River, and I availed myself of the opportunity to reach that section. 

 We arrived at Depot, a store on the river about 90 miles inland, on April 12, after a delay 

 caused by the steamer going aground, which gave me the opportunity of making a station 

 50 miles from the mouth of the river. Fearing that the Leichhardt would now miss the 

 spring tides and thus be detained in the river, and finding that the packhorse mail was 

 about to start for Katherine River, I arranged to leave by the overland route. As this 

 was the first trip of the mail by this route, there were no tracks to follow through the very 

 rough country as far as Delamere. The journey was not unpleassant, notwithstanding 

 the season; the water was good, as billabongs and lagoons were found at frequent in- 

 tervals; and no blacks were seen, though a constant lookout was maintained and firearms 

 were kept at hand, especially at night. The only annoyance of consequence was from the 

 tall spear grass whose sharp penetrating seeds were very irritating. Katherine River was 

 reached April 24, and the station of 1912 was reoccupied. The return to Darwin was by 

 coach to Pine Creek, where another 1912 station was reoccupied, and thence by rail, 

 arriving May 1, after a round trip of about 800 miles. 



II. At Darwin I learned that the Leichhardt was aground in the Victoria River, with 

 no certainty as to when she might return. I therefore chartered a lugger for a short trip 

 to Bathurst and Melville Islands, taking with me the Malay captain and a crew consisting 

 of another Malay and a Filipino. These men proved to be quiet, reliable, and good 

 sailors. I arrived at Mission Station, Bathurst Island, on May 4, after a rough passage. 

 Then having established the station, we set sail for Cape Van Diemen at the north end of 

 Apsley Straits, and the following day landed about 1 mile from Piper Head, the nearest 

 the captain dared approach Cape Van Diemen on account of the treacherous character of 

 of the sand bars and reefs in the neighborhood. The magnetic station was made near 

 the remains of an old trepang camp. The party was armed in anticipation of trouble, 

 but no blacks were seen. During my work ashore the men collected a supply of turtle 

 eggs and caught plenty of small fish with a net. In the afternoon we put off for Brenton 

 Bay on the north coast of Melville Island, about 70 miles to the eastward, but the next 

 morning while rounding Cape Van Diemen very bad weather came on. The captain 

 thought it dangerous to proceed, and I reluctantly ran back into the straits for shelter 

 as there is no anchorage along that part of the north coast of the island. The weather 

 continued bad the next day, and as it was important that I reach Darwin in time to sail 

 for Boroloola with the Leichhardt, the time of whose return from Victoria River was un- 

 certain, we decided to abandon the trip around the island and return at once to Darwin. 

 We accordingly set sail and arrived at Darwin on the morning of May 11, after a trip of 8 

 days, establishing 3 stations. 



III. Making use of a further opportunity while waiting for the delayed government 

 boat, I reoccupied the 1912 station at Batchelor on May 14. Meanwhile the Leichhardt 

 had arrived, and the start was made for Boroloola on May 17. When about 90 miles out 

 the vessel began leaking badly, and as the water gained considerably, though all the 

 pumps were kept going, we turned about for Darwin with all boats provisioned and prep- 

 arations made to abandon ship if necessary. Fortunately, we reached Darwin safely 

 though a large amount of sugar, rice, and flour was ruined by the water. After a delay of 



