EXAMINE TRINITY BAY. 99 



vessel ; as it was the survivors retired in confusion^ 

 which was further increased by the discharg'e among 

 them of a swivel g'un^ mounted on a pivot amidships. 



At Goold Island^ where the Will o'the Wisp next 

 went in search of water^ they had another affray 

 with the natives^ of \^'hom several were shot^ but 

 whether justifiably^ or from reveng'eful motives^ is 

 known to themselves only. Knowing* that the 

 Rattlesnake was upon the coast they proceeded in 

 search of her to obtain surgical and other assistance, 

 and, meeting two of the surveying* boats, they were 

 directed to Fitzroy Island. 



Some parts of this account appeared so extraor- 

 dinary, and others so improbable, that Captain 

 Stanley felt it his duty to report it to the Colonial 

 Government, along* with the depositions of the men. 

 Some days afterwards, the master, whose skull had 

 been fractured, being* pronounced to be in as fair away 

 to recovery as was possible under the circumstances 

 the Will o' the Wisp sailed for Moreton Bay, which 

 we afterwards learned she reached in safety. 



July 2Qth. — A party left before daylig*ht in the 

 pinnace and first g-alley, to examine an opening* in 

 Trinity Bay, marked upon King-'s chart. We 

 found it to present the appearance of a wide creek 

 running' through low mangrove swamps, and Avith 

 the eye could trace its windings for the distance of 

 two or three miles. In all probability this is the 

 embouchure of a considerable fresh water stream, 

 but the shallowness of the head of the bav and the 



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