80 GOOLD ISLAND. 



chastisement bestowed upon them some years ag'o, 

 in consequence of a wanton attack made upon a 

 seining' party will^ probably^ for some time to come, 

 render them cautious of comino- in contact with 

 white men. While wadino- about amono- the tall 

 grass, the long* sharp awns of the prevailing- kind, 

 an AiitJiistiria, were more anno3'ing' than can be 

 described, having forced their way in hundreds 

 through my thin clothing', causing an annoying and 

 painful irritation ; to which, the bites of clouds of 

 musquitoes in a mangrove SAvamp which I bad 

 entered in chase of some bower birds, added a 

 finishing' touch, as if to test the powers of human 

 endurance. Having expended my stock of dust 

 shot, I tried fine sand — which I had somewhere 

 read of as a substitute, but, although used under 

 the most favourable conditions, the experiment 

 proved a complete failure. ^^ Sights'^ for rating the 

 chronometers, to get which was the only object in 

 coming here, having been obtained, we left for Goold 

 Island in the afternoon. 



May 21st, — Passing outside of the Palm 

 Islands, and rounding' Cape Sandwich, we entered 

 Hockingham Bay, and anchored on the N.W. side 

 of Goold Island, where Ave found the Tarn 

 O'Shanter. This island is about seven miles in 

 circumference, gradually rising' towards the centre, 

 to form a peak 1376 feet in height. The shores are 

 rocky, with occasional sand}^ beaches, and the island 

 is Avell wooded up to its summit ; Eucalypti (gum- 



