94 THE GREAT BARRIER REEF. 



with names, conferred by that intrepid navigator, whose very titles and significance serve 

 to distinguish them conspicuously from those of any subsequent explorer. As samples 

 ot his nomenclature, such names may be cited as those of Break-sea Spit, Thirsty Sound, 

 Repulse Bay, Trinity Bay, Providential Channel, Possession Island, and Capes Capricorn, 

 Upstart, Tribulation, and Flattery. All of these, and a multitude of others associated with this 

 coast-line, carry with them a most unmistakable Cookian ring. Having accomplished the task 

 he set himself, albeit attended by many miraculous escapes from shipwreck. Captain 

 Cook brought his vessel, the Endeavour, safely from Hobart and Sydney, to Possession 

 Island, in Torres Strait, and thence proceeded, via New Guinea, to Timor and Java. He was 

 thus the first to thread completely, and open up for navigation, the great Indo-Australian 

 highway now known as the Inner Route. 



Next in order to Captain Cook's voyage of discovery the names of Flinders, King, and 

 Bligh are most intimately associated with tentative explorations of Torres Strait and the Great 

 Barrier regions. The first thoroughly systematic survey of this important and very extensive 

 conjoint area is, however, associated with the voyages of H.M.S. Fly and Bramble, prosecuted 

 in the years 1842-1846, under the command of Captain F. P. Blackwood, R.N. The express 

 object of that very important surveying cruise is graphically set forth in the " sailing orders " 

 despatched from the Admiralty to Captain Blackwood, which read as follow: — 



" Whereas, a large proportion of the vessels trading to the South Sea, and to Australia, are obliged to return 

 to Europe, or proceed to India, by way of Torres Strait : and whereas many of these vessels, when weakhanded, 

 in order to avoid the frequent anchorage necessary in the in-shore passage, by what is called King's Route, stand 

 out to sea till an opportunity offers for making one of the narrow gaps in the Barrier Reefs, through which they 

 steer for the Strait ; and whereas, several vessels have thus been lost, there being no other guide to these openings 

 than the casual observation of latitude which is often incorrect, there being no land to be seen till entangled within 

 the reefs, and no chart on which the dangers are correctly placed. 



"We have therefore thought fit for the above reasons, to have the Great Barrier Reef explored and to have 

 those gaps surveyed, in order that some means may be devised for so marking the most eligible of these openings, 

 that they may be recognised in due time, and passed through in comparative safety; and having thought fit to 

 entrust you with the command of an expedition to effect these objects, we hereby require and direct you to take 

 Her Majesty's cutter Braiiibk under your orders, and when she and Her Majesty's Ship Fly, under your immediate 

 command, shall be in every respect ready for sea, to proceed to the island of Madeira . . . ; and then losing 

 no further time, you are to repair to Sydney. 



" Having refitted your vessels, recruited your provisions, and refreshed your crews, and having procured all the 

 mfonnatiun respecting the Barrier Reefs and openings that can be obtained there, you will proceed to carry into 

 execution the following objects ; and notwithstanding the order in which they are here placed, we leave the several 

 periods of their performance to your discretion. 



"i. The survey of the e.\terior or eastern edge of that vast chain of reefs which extends almost continuously 

 from Breaksea Spit to the shore of New (iuinea. 



"2. The thorough examination of all the channels thiough the Barrier Chain, with detailed plans of those 

 which offer a secure passage. 



