STATION AT COEAL BAY. 159 



In concluding- the subject of the Aborig-ines, I 

 may add that at present the natives of Port Essing*- 

 ton have Uttle to thank the white man for. The 

 advantag-e of being provided with reg'ular food and 

 other comforts enjoyed by such as are in service are 

 merely temporary^ and^ like the means of g-ratifying* 

 two new habits — the use of tobacco and spirits — to 

 which the}^ have become passionately addicted^ will 

 cease when the settlement is abandoned. The last 

 importation of the whites w^as syphilis^ and by it 

 they will probably be remembered for years to 

 come. 



During- our stay at Port Essington^ I made an 

 excursion in the decked boat of the settlement (Avhich 

 Capt. Macarthur khidly allowed me the use of) to 

 Coral Bay^ a station for invalids, very pleasantly 

 situated on the western side of the harbour, twelve 

 miles from Victoria. We found there my old friend 

 Mr. Tilston,* the assistant-surgeon, with some con- 

 valescents under his charge. This is a much cooler 

 and pleasanter locality than the neighbourhood of 

 the settlement, still the heat was at times very great. 

 I had here pointed out to me a kind of tea-tree, or 

 Melaleuca, which had a short time before been 



* In addition to zealous attention to his medical duties, Mr. 

 Tilston's great mechanical skill was often of service to the 

 settlement. He was much attached to Natural History pursuits, 

 made large collections, and many drawings. His gentleness of 

 disposition endeared him to all. He died of fever in the following 

 year. 



