320 ITS ADVANTAGES. 



be a dangerous one— and protection would be 

 aiforded to the coaling- depot for steamers at Port 

 Albany.* 



4th. In a military point of view the importance of 

 such a post has been urg-ed upon the gTound^ that 

 in the event of \var^ a sing-le enemy ^s ship stationed 

 in the neighbourhood^ if previously unoccupied^ could 

 completely command the whole of our commerce 

 passing- through the Strait. 



5th. From what more central point could opera- 

 tions be conducted with the yiew of extendino- our 

 knowledge of the interior of Ts ew Guinea by ascend- 

 ing some of the large rivers of that country^ dis- 

 emboo'uino' on the shores of the Great Bio-ht ? 



6th and lastly. But on this point I would advance 

 my opinion with much diffidence— I believe that 

 were a settlement to be established at Cape York^ 

 missionary enterprize^ judiciously conducted, might 

 find a useful field for its labours in Torres Strait^ 

 beginning- with the Murray and Darnle}^ Islanders, 

 people of a much higher intellectual standard than 

 the Australians, and consequently more likely to 

 appreciate any humanizing- influence which might 

 be exercised for their benefit. 



Several kano-aroos or wallabies, the laro-est of 



* I adduce this last advantage on the presumption, which now 

 assumes a greater degree of probabihty than before — that the 

 steam communication before alluded to (p. 132), will be estab- 

 lished, and that the Torres Strait route, the one which is almost 

 generally advocated, will be the one adopted. 



