NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



and other weapons, and asked for ' toree, toree,' by which they meant iron. . . . 

 Their arms were bows, arrows and clubs, which they bartered for every kind of iron- 

 work with eagerness, but appeared to set little value on anything else. . . . 



" Their canoes are about 50 feet in length, and appear to have been hollowed out 

 of a single tree. . . . These vessels are low forward, but rise abaft, and being narrow 

 are fitted with an outrigger on each side to keep them steady. A raft, of greater 

 breadth than the canoe, extends over about half the length, and upon this is fixed a 

 shed or hut, thatched with palm leaves. These people, in short, appeared to be 

 dextrous sailors and formidable warriours, and to be as much at ease in the water as 

 in their canoes. 



" Jth September. The boats having found deep water round the north end of the 

 three low islands, the vessels followed them, but anchored again soon after noon, 

 in lat. 9 31' and long. 143 31', being sheltered by the two western ISLANDS, named 

 STEPHENS' and CAMPBELL'S, and the reefs which surround them. . . . 



" 8th September. The vessels steered westward. . . . No land or other obstruction 

 had been seen in that quarter, but at 10 o'clock they were forced to haul the wind to 

 the southward, their course being impeded by reefs, upon one of which was PEARCE'S 

 SANDY KEY. At noon they had anchored in 15 fathoms under the lee of DALRYMPLE'S 

 ISLAND, the westernmost before seen ; but two other islands were then visible in the 

 S. by W. . . . The latitude here was 9 37' and longitude 143 3i'-i43 I5'E. 

 In the afternoon, NATIVES came out from the beach and exchanged ornaments and 

 plums for iron. A moderate-sized dog, of a brown chestnut colour, was observed 

 amongst the party." 



qth September. The ships still followed the boats, " between the cluster of islands 

 to the southward and an extensive reef to the west. 1 ... At noon, the lat. was 

 9 48', long. 143 6', and two other islands came in sight to the westward. Before 



2 o'clock, an extensive reef, partly dry, to which the name of Dungeness was given, 

 made it necessary to heave to until the boats had time to sound ; after which Captain 

 Bligh bore away along the north side of the reef, and anchored a mile from it. ... 

 In this situation DUNGENESS ISLAND, which is low and woody, bore N. 64-87 W., 



3 miles, and a small sandy isle, named WARRIOUR'S ISLAND, N. 6-1 W., 4 miles .... 

 Besides these, there were other low isles, called the Six SISTERS, in sight to the SE., 

 and a long fiat island, bearing S. 33-46 W., over the dry Dungeness Reef. In the 

 west also there were islands visible, at a greater distance, and much higher, than the 

 others. The strait, instead of becoming clearer, seemed to be more and more 

 embarrassed with dangers as the vessels proceeded westward. The latitude of this 

 anchorage was 9 50^' S. and longitude 142 55' E. 



" loth September. The boats sounded the channel [BASILISK PASS, so named in 

 1871 by Captain Moresby, of the ' Basilisk.'' R. L. J.] to the north-west between 

 Dungeness and Warriour's Islands, and finding sufficient water the vessels got under 

 way at noon to follow them. There were many NATIVES collected upon the shore of 

 Dungeness Island, and several canoes from Warriour's Island were about the brig. 

 Presently Captain Portlock made the signal for assistance, and there was a discharge 

 of musketry and some guns from his vessel and from the boats. Canoes were also 

 coming towards the ' Providence? and when a musket was fired at the headmost, the 

 natives set up a great shout and paddled forward in a body ; nor was musketry sufficient 

 to make them desist. The second great gun, loaded with grape, was directed at the 

 foremost of eight canoes, full of men, and the round shot, after raking the whole 

 length, struck the high stern. The Indians leaped out and swam towards their 

 companions, plunging constantly to avoid the musket-balls which showered thickly 

 about them. The squadron then made off as fast as the people could paddle, but 

 afterwards rallied at a greater distance, until a shot which passed over their heads 

 made them disperse and give up all idea of any further attack. 



" In passing the deserted canoe, one native was observed still sitting in it. The 

 other canoes afterwards returned to him, and, with glasses, signals were perceived 



i Warrior Reef R. L. J. 



