BY F. C. URQUHART. 45 



the Embley to the other large opening, seen as we entered the 

 bay some three miles to the north of the Embley, but after some 

 hours' industrious sounding I was obliged to give it up, the water 

 shoaling in places to five feet, but I ascertained that in the centre 

 of the opening itself there was a six-fathom channel, so I hoisted 

 sail, and before a fair wind flew rapidly back to the Albatross 

 with this piece of intelligence. The anchor was raised and the 

 Albatross steamed for the open sea until the line of three-fathom 

 soundings previously taken was reached, when she was headed 

 for the northern shore of the bay until the opening I had visited 

 earlier in the day was brought in line with Duyfhen Point. We 

 then steamed straight for the opening, and carrying five and six 

 fathoms of water all the way soon entered the mouth of a large 

 river, up which we proceeded for three miles, still getting the 

 same soundings. Mr. Douglas named this stream the " Hey," 

 after the plucky and enterprising missionary who reported its 

 existence. The banks of the Hey are flatter and less inviting 

 in appearance than those of the Embley, and are thickly grown 

 with mangroves to the water's edge, but no doubt further up the 

 country would become open. 



At the three miles' point we turned and steamed out straight 

 for Duyfhen Point, always with five and six fathom soundings, 

 till we reached the open sea, passing on our way the mouth of the 

 Pine Biver — a very shallow stream flowing into the bay from the 

 north. 



Under Duyfhen Point is an excellent anchorage, sheltered 

 from all winds and forming a valuable harbour of refuge for 

 vessels trading to the Gulf ports during the X.W. monsoons. 



Had this place been known the hapless Kanahooka, lost in 

 1894, might have succeeded in reaching it, instead of remainiiig 

 outside to founder in the open sea. 



For persons with the pluck to endure the climate (and it is 

 not so very bad) I believe the Embley is well adapted for 

 agricultural settlement, sugar, coft'ee, maize, and most semi- 

 tropical fruits and vegetables could I think be successfully grown, 

 and markets for such produce are handy at Thursday Island 

 Burketown, and Normanton, and from the latter place by train 

 to Croydon. 



