132 PORT ALBANY AS 



dia'S'ino' in the bed of the hio-oon. Nearly all the 

 g-rass is of a coarse sedg'e-like description^ mixed^ 

 however^ in places ^vith grasses of a finer kind. 

 Towards the end of the dry season^ the grass^ when 

 not burnt off by the natives^ presents a most unin- 

 viting*^ withered appearance, being* so dry as almost 

 to crumble into dust if rubbed between the palms of 

 the hand. 



As one of the more immediate beneficial results 

 of our survey of the Inner Passage^ would be to 

 facilitate its use by steamers, should arrangements 

 at present contemplated for the continuance of the 

 ^^ overland" communication between Great Britain 

 and India, from Singapore to the Australian 

 colonies, by way of Torres Strait, ever be carried 

 into effect^ so it was of importance to find some 

 place in the neighbourhood of Cape York, con- 

 venient as a coalino* station durino- either monsoon. 

 An eligible spot for this purpose was found in Port 

 Albany, the name given by Lieut. Yule, who surveyed 

 it in 1846, to the narrow channel separating- Albany 

 Island from the main land. Here a small sandy bay 

 with a sufficient depth of water close inshore^ was^ 

 after a minute examination by Captain Stanley, 

 considered to be well adapted to the running* out of 

 a jetty, alongside of which the largest steamer could 

 lie in perfect safety. This little ba}^ has anchorage 

 close inshore for three or four vessels only, as a 

 little further out they v» ould be in the stream of 

 tide which runs with great strength, especially in 



