EARLY DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIA. 375 



I say unknown, because their expeditions were not put on record, 

 or, if they were, those records still lie buried in the archives of Torre 

 do Tombo, in Portugal, and Simancas, in Spain. The Portuguese 

 proverb, " Nao ha Segredo que tarde on cedo nao sega descoberto " 

 (No one has a secret that sooner or later shall not be discovered), 

 may some day come true with reference to them. For the present, 

 however, one must, as xMajor puts it, content oneself with " pro- 

 gressing from the unknown into the known." Then fresh dis- 

 coveries will result. 



In the present instance, after showing by means of maps that 

 Australia was discovered at an early period by the Portugeuse and 

 Spaniards (and we must always remember that maps constitute the 

 greatest evidence of land discovery) , I shall, in the second part of this 

 paper, refer briefly to the great discoveries of de Queiroz and Torres, 

 the last of the great Portuguese and Spanish navigators 



Map No. 1, 1911. — If we look at a recent map of Australia we 

 shall find on it certain features and certain names, the importance 

 of which, with reference to discovery, is not generally understood or 

 heeded in any way. Let us take a rapid trip right round this 

 continent and consider some of these peculiarities. 



Starting from Cape York, and a little to the south-east of it 

 lies a little picturesque island bearing the name Cairncross Island. 

 Having vainly endeavoured to find the origin of that name in the 

 various accounts of early surveys and discoveries, some years ago 

 I advertised a handsome reward to anyone who should be able to 

 solve the mystery connected with it. I got no answer. I con- 

 tinued to advertise for some time — for a long time ; I increased the 

 amount offered, but all my efforts remained useless. The name, 

 placed as it is, at the summit of the continent, is full of suggestion, 

 because it was the custom of both Portuguese and Spanish navi- 

 gators to erect stone crosses or cruciform cairns on islands and 

 coasts discovered by them. 



But let us pass on. We come, lower down, to Cape Tribulation. 

 This is near the spot where Lieutenant Cook's ship the " Endeavour" 

 nearly came to grief. Lieutenant Cook should have been more 

 careful, for his shipmate, Joseph Banks, had in his possession an old 

 document, amongst others given to him by Dalrymple, relating to 

 early Spanish and Portuguese navigators in these waters, on which 

 this part of the coast of Queensland was marked as " Coste 

 Dangereuse " (dangerous coast). 



Following our southerly course amidst the breakers and shoals 

 we come to Broad Sound, Cook examined this part of the coast 

 very carefully in search of a bay, and he anchored near an island at 

 the entrance to the Sound. The navigation here is very intricate. 

 This is the Lost Bay of the old Lusitano-Spanish charts. Torres, 

 in the year 1606 endeavoured to reach it, but was compelled to 

 abandon his attempt, owing to contrary currents ; the same 

 currents were encountered by Cook, who, on that account, gave the 

 name Repulse Bay to this part of the coast 



