THE GREAT BARRIER REEF 315 



noted as a failure. Still it won't be for any fault of 

 mine. 



We got this afternoon late to Cairns, but have not yet 

 been ashore ; the place as seen from the sea is quite at- 

 tractive, stretching along the beach with plenty of trees 

 separating the low houses. Our coming in caused quite 

 a sensation — the population was evidently just coming 

 out of church and they all flocked to the wharf to see 

 us come to an anchor. The Captain has gone ashore to 

 see the authorities and to make arrangements for our 

 going to see the Barren River Falls, which are the most 

 noted falls in Australia. Of course if the wind lets up 

 we go out to the reef, which is only about twelve miles 

 off from our anchorage. But to-night there seems to be 

 no prospect of such good luck. 



On Board the Croyden, 



Off the Lark Passage, 



May 5, 1896. 



" At last we got off from Cairns last Sunday after- 

 noon, after having wasted a full week there at anchor 

 doing absolutely nothing except the little occupation we 

 manage to get from drawing a rather interesting jelly- 

 fish which seems to swarm up in the estuaries of the 

 Australian coast. Had we been weatherbound at any 

 other port we would have fared better, as there would 

 have been the railroad lines running inland, some of 

 which lead to interesting mining districts where I could 

 have spent some time profitably looking at mines. On 

 getting away we had an excellent sight of the reef on 

 the southern side of Trinity Opening, which showed 

 nothing remarkable. The night we spent running north 

 towards Cooktown ; we had a good passage, then after 

 breakfast attacked the two inner patches leading to the 



