42 BY GEORGE WATKINS. 



The South Passage between Moreton and Stradbrooke 

 Islands was for many yeavs the only entrance to the Bay that 

 was utilised. The following extract from the diary of Major 

 Lockyer on a visit for exploration in 1828 is interesting: — 



" 10th October. — Dropped down to Amity Point ; anchored 

 there, the wind blowing in with a strong N.E. breeze. Went on 

 shore ; a number of natives lying there. Was much amused by 

 their singing a song, pronouncing several English words dis- 

 tinctly, and by their instantly recognising James Finnigan, one 

 of three men who were wrecked on the shore in a boat there 

 three years (a slight mistake) ago, having been driven away to 

 the north from lllaAvarra or the Five Islands by a gale of wind. 

 These men were kindly treated and taken care of by the natives 

 for nine months until discovered by Mr. Oxley. They were 

 delighted at meeting Finnigan again, and instantly brought a 

 supply of fish which they offered without expecting any return, 

 though I took care, by giving them fishhooks, lines, biscuits, 

 and several other things, looking-glasses, hatchets, to show them 

 we did not slight their good will. 



" The stories told of their being cannibals are fabulous and 

 absurd. They are a quiet, inoft'ensive, good-natured peoi^le. 



" 11th. — Quitted Moreton Bay at 9 a.m., with a land breeze 

 leaving our friends the natives sitting on the shore at Amity 

 Point watching the vessel until she sunk in the horizon from 

 their view. 



" The attachment of these people to their dogs is worthy of 

 notice. I was very anxious to get one of the wild native breed 

 of a black colour, a very handsome puppy, which one of the 

 men had in his arms. I offered a small axe for it ; his com- 

 panions urged him to take it, and he was about to do so, when 

 he looked at the dog and the animal licked his face, which 

 settled the business. He shook his bead and determined to keep 

 him. I tried him afterwards with handkerchiefs of glaring 

 colours." 



A pilot station was afterwards established at Amity Point, 

 the site of which has long disappeared owing to the encroach- 

 ment of the sea. I remember on the beach the foundations of 



