EXPLORING PARTY. 409 



of reason. An exploring party, however, was at 

 once formed, consisting of Captain Wickham, Lieut. 

 Emery, and Mr. Helpraan, who — the next day 

 being Sunday — did not leave before the morning of 

 the ^9th, with two boats and four days' provisions. 



Many were the anxious and envious looks bestowed 

 on the party as they left the ship on the deeply 

 interesting service of exploring the new river. So 

 strong and native is man's desire for the unknown, 

 that his feelings are never more tried than when 

 on the brink of a discovery, while those who are in 

 presence of the novelty, and cannot enjoy the satis- 

 faction of tasting that pleasure, must ever experience 

 somewhat acute emotions of regret. 



There was no difficulty in finding a name for a 

 river which fell into Clarence Strait ; it was at 

 once, therefore, honoured with that of Adelaide, 

 after her most gracious Majesty the Queen Dow- 

 ager. The bay that receives its waters was called 

 after Vice- Admiral Sir Charles Adam. The 

 remaining part of the south side of Clarence Strait, 

 together with the islands in the western entrance 

 of it, gave ample, though not such interesting 

 employment as the exploration of the Adelaide, to 

 those who were left behind. Several unsuccessful 

 hauls were made with the seine, fish in Adam Bay 

 being very scarce. 



Near Escape Cliifs I met a small family of natives, 

 consisting of an elderly man, his wife, and four 

 children ; by degrees, advancing alone, I contrived 



