Unfounded Aspersions on the Visit of the Novara. 623 



were the most savage race of men we encountered tlirougli- 

 out our cruise, these amiable Sikayanese left on us the 

 impression of being the most moral and peacefully disposed 

 race of aborigines that we became acquainted with, and even 

 to this day the few fleeting but highly suggestive hours we 

 spent with these primitive people are among the most sin- 

 gular, yet delightful, on which memory rests, when recalling 

 the incidents of our circumnavigation.* 



A fresh breeze hurried us rapidly to the southward during 

 the 18th, but we soon entered once more upon the region of 



state of the weather prevented this, as there were continual squalls, and the threaten- 

 ing state of the weather did not admit of a boat being launched. However at a 

 distance of half a mile from the reef, no bottom was found with 200 fathoms of line. 

 * It is perhaps a duty to our gallant companions of every grade to vindicate the 

 Expedition once more, and finally, from certain malignant calumnies which, upwards 

 of a year after we had left Australian waters, were circulated in the columns of even 

 respectable newspapers, accusing the crew of the Novara of having been guilty of 

 most scandalous excesses and wanton robbery while at Sikayana. It seems however 

 needless to insist that not the slightest pretext for such infamous aspersions was 

 furnished by any of the party who spent these few hours in Sikayana, of which we 

 have sketched the details in the present chapter. But the fact that they coiild be 

 circulated without its being possible to contradict them on official authority points 

 to a serious defect in our diplomatic position abroad. True, that no respectable 

 member of the community accredited the idle mischievous report; true that the 

 leading inhabitants, English, American, and German, strenuously combated it on 

 every possible occasion, and in every possible manner. Yet had Austria been a 

 recognized power, instead of a friendly guest, it needs but little acquaintance with 

 the etiquette of public and official life to know that the calumny must have been 

 stifled in its birth, by the prompt action of those specially appointed to protect the 

 fair fame of their country in these distant waters. Not till her flag floats regularly 

 to the breeze in the most distant countries, instead of being that of a casual visitor, 

 will Austria, and through her the entire German nation, receive that respect, and 

 occupy that position among the family of nations, to which her intelligence, her 

 energy, and her important influence upon the progress of civiUzation alike entitle 

 her. 



