io6 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



out. They saw [' on entering a very fine bay,' according to Hamilton] a run of 

 water, landed and filled their two barricois, which were the only vessels of consequence 

 they had with them, [What follows is the narrative of Captain Edwards in the pinnace, 

 the Surgeon, with the yawls, having taken a more southerly course, almost west, for 

 the nearest land. R. L. J.], and I steered for an island called by Lieutenant Bligh 

 MOUNTAINOUS ISLAND [Mount Adolphus Island. R .L. J.], and when JOINED BY THE 

 BOATS ran into a bay of that island [on ^rd September] . . ." 



SURGEON HAMILTON 



" Everything being ready on the following day, 1st September, at 12 o'clock 

 [10.30 a.m., Captain], we embarked in our little squadron, each boat having been 

 previously supplied with the latitude and longitude of the island of Timor, 1,100 

 miles from this place. Our order of sailing was as follows : 



" In the Pinnace. CAPTAIN EDWARDS ; Lt. Hayward ; Mr. Rickards, Master's 

 Mate ; Mr. Packer, Gunner ; Mr. Edmonds, Captain's Clerk ; Three Prisoners ; 

 Sixteen Privates. 



" In the Red Yawl. Lt. Larkin ; MR. GEORGE HAMILTON, SURGEON ; Mr. 

 Reynolds, Master's Mate ; Mr. Matson, Midshipman ; Two Prisoners ; Eighteen 

 Privates. 



" In the Launch. Lt. Corner ; Mr. Gregory Bentham, Purser ; Mr. Montgomery, 

 Carpenter ; Mr. Bowling, Master's Mate ; Mr. McKendrick, Midshipman ; Two 

 Prisoners ; Twenty-four Privates. 



" In the Blue Yawl. Mr. George Passmore, Master ; Mr. Cunningham, 

 Boatswain ; Mr. James Innes, Surgeon's Mate ; Mr. Fenwick, Midshipman ; Three 

 Prisoners ; Fifteen Privates. 



" As soon as we embarked, we laid the oars upon the thwarts, which formed a 

 platform, by which means we stowed two tiers of men. A pair of wooden scales 

 was made in each boat, and a musket-ball weight of bread served to each man. 



" At meridian, we saw a key, bounded with white craggy rocks. As the principal 

 part of our subsistence was in the launch, it was necessary to keep together, both for 

 our defence and support. We towed each other during the night and at daybreak 

 cast off the tow-line. 



" At 8 in the morning [2nd September] the red and blue yawls were sent ahead to 

 sound and investigate the coast of New South Wales and to search for a watering- 

 place. The country had been described as very destitute of the article of water ; 

 but on entering a very fine bay [Orford Bay. R. L. J.] we found most excellent 

 water rushing from a spring at the very edge of the beach. Here we filled our bellies, 

 a tea kettle and two quart pots. The pinnace and launch had gone too far ahead 

 to observe any signal of our success, and immediately we set sail after them. The 

 coast has a very barren aspect, and from the appearance of the soil and land, looks 

 like a country abounding with minerals. 



" As we passed round the bay [towards Usher Point, west of Gilmore Bank. 

 R. L. J.] two CANOES, with three black men in each, put off and paddled very hard 

 to get near us. They stood up in the canoes, waved, and made signs for us to come 

 to them. But as they were perfectly naked, had a very savage aspect, and having 

 heard an indifferent account of the NATIVES of that country, we judged it prudent 

 to avoid them. 



" In two hours we joined the pinnace and launch, which were lying to for us. 

 At 10 at night, we were alarmed with the dreadful cry of * Breakers ahead.' We 

 had got amongst a reef of rocks ; and in our present state, being worn out and fatigued, 

 it is difficult to say how we got out of them, as the place was fraught with dangers 

 all round. . . . After running along, we came to an inhabited island, from which 

 we promised ourselves a supply of water. [It was evidently daylight, and therefore 

 yd September. R. L. J.] On our approach, the NATIVES nocked down to the beach 

 in crowds. . . . We made signals of distress to them for something to drink which 

 they understood ; and on receiving some trifling presents . . . they brought us a 



