XXXYV. 
We found, as we had been told, a very heavy sea in the gulf, and unfortunately, when we got within 
thirty or forty miles of the coast of New Guinea, the wind went down, but the sea did not, and we were 
tossed and rolled about for two days within sight of our haven, but powerless to reach it. 
Yule Island forms the sea face of the sound, and the opening on the north side between the island and 
the mainland is merely a shallow sandbank. We dropped anchor [August 19th] close to the north-west 
point of the island, opposite Mr. D’Albertis’ residence, which we could see perched on the side of a clear 
hill about 100 feet above the water. 
We remained at our anchorage off Yule Island until Thursday, September 2nd, during all which 
time we were employed collecting. One attempt was made to penetrate inland. We ran up a 
river, named by Captain Moresby the Ethel, for 10 or 12 miles and camped out for a night on its 
banks ; but we were, as at Katow, stopped by timber, and it was very apparent that we could not 
hope to reach the mountains by that channel. We got many handsome and valuable birds during 
our stay here, averaging in number of specimens from twenty to thirty a day, among them some 
fine specimens of Buceros and one of the magnificent crested goura. We saw plenty of the plumes 
of birds of Paradise among the natives, but shot none. Our success in other respects was fair. 
Mr. Brazier secured a goodly lot of land shells; Mr. Spalding got a dozen specimens of the very rare 
Batocera Wallacei, and a snake belonging to the genus Liasis was secured, of the length of 14 feet. I was 
disappointed, however, in not getting specimens of the cassowary and tree kangaroo. On leaving Hall 
Sound it was my intention to visit Redscar Bay, about 24 miles to the east-south-east, as there were still 
three weeks to run of the time which I had fixed upon for my return to Cape York. But on finding the 
wind unfavourable, and that we might be a day or two doing what I hoped to do in three hours, I gave 
instructions for an immediate return to Darnley Island to pick up the steam launch en route to Cape York. 
On Wednesday, the 8th September, the Chevert dropped her anchor in her old anchorage near Somerset, 
and my expedition to New Guinea came to a close. 
Except as regards seeing something of the interior of New Guinea, Sir William 
fairly carried out his intended programme. The following extracts from his speech 
at the banquet tendered to him on the eve of leaving Sydney already referred to, 
show in what direction his hopes lay in regard to the matter of New Guinea. 
“T intend,” he said, “‘in the first place to visit the large delta on the western side of the Gulf of 
Papua, which consists either of numerous mouths of one river, or the mouths of numerous rivers, At all 
events, there can be no doubt that the delta is of enormous extent, and is probably formed at the outlet of 
the rivers from the largest and least known part of the island of New Guinea. I hope that by means of a 
steam-launch which I shal! take with me, and which will be so fitted out that it would be utterly impossible 
for the natives to do any injury to those on board, to penetrate some distance, and be enabled to see what 
the interior of New Guinea is made of. 
“Tf T can manage to get up the Fly River, for instance, the attempt to explore which thirty-five years 
ago failed on account of the hostility of the natives, I shall accomplish a great work. I hope to do that, 
for I believe a great change has come over the natives, who, within the last few years, have had frequent 
intercourse with pearl traders, and in whose territory missionary settlements have been formed. 
Missionaries were received in the most kindly way ; and, as far as I can learn, hostility by the natives 
has in a great measure ceased,” 
These hopes, as we have seen, were frustrated by untoward circumstances. The 
subsequent experiences of the Rev. S. Macfarlane and Signor D’Albertis in the 
