174 RETURN TO PORT USBORNE. 



reflections upon the gradual progress of human 

 ingenuity by the advance of which, the same intel" 

 lect that first contents itself with the mere floating 

 of the single tree, at length shapes a forest into 

 timbers and launches the floating fortress in triumph 

 on the deep ! 



We were now about 40 miles in a direct line from 

 Port Usborne, and perhaps 7O by the winding course 

 we were obliged to follow ; only two days' provisions 

 remained, and as we were still deficient of material 

 for the chart of this archipelago, I was reluctantly 

 obliged to abandon the idea of attempting to reach 

 Collier Bay. The mainland we had explored, since 

 leaving Port Usborne, may be described as forming 

 eight bays, varying in depth from three to eight miles, 

 and in width from two to five ; their general trend 

 is E.S.E. ; many islets skirt their shores, and almost 

 more than can be counted fill their mouths. 



March 26. — With the first grey of the morning 

 we left Bathurst Island, on our return to the south- 

 ward. Whilst passing inside the cluster of isles of 

 slate formation, we heard a " halloa," and on look- 

 ing in the direction from whence it proceeded, a 

 native was observed on a raft : the boat's course was 

 immediately altered so as to cut him off" should he 

 attempt to escape, but to my great surprise he 

 paddled towards us with all possible haste. He was 

 soon alongside, and with great satisfaction we at 

 once recognized our strange friend of yesterday, 

 who amongst the boat's crew, went by the sobriquet 



