FIRST VOYAGE FROM SYDNEY 175 



of the Barrier Reef, from the PIPON ISLANDS and MELANIE ROCK 

 south-westward, were surveyed on this occasion. 



Lieutenant Yule was dispatched with the " Bramble" from Cape 

 Melville, to measure the difference in latitude between that cape 

 and CAPE DIRECTION, and Jukes was a passenger. Evidently the 

 " Bramble " took the passage inside the reef, as NIGHT ISLAND is 

 mentioned as having been seen before CAPE DIRECTION was reached 

 on 2^th June. (SEE MAP C.) At daybreak on the 25^, two NATIVES 

 were observed near the anchorage fishing from a large outrigger- 

 dugout. Following on a brief parley, some amicable bartering of 

 spears, etc., for bottles, biscuits and ribbons took place. After 

 breakfast, two boats were rowed ashore with a party comprising 

 Lieutenant Yule, Dr. McLatchie, Messrs. Pollard and Sweatman, 

 Jukes and nine seamen. The landing-place was probably near 

 VILLIS POINT, where Bligh had landed in 1789 from the " Bounty's " 

 launch. A few men were left in the boats, and the rest of the party 

 ascended MOUNT DIRECTION, where they made a series of observa- 

 tions. The hill was of granite and 490 feet high. The two blacks 

 who had been fishing reached the hill-top shortly after the whites, 

 and were presently joined by a third. To keep them in good 

 humour and prevent them disturbing Yule and the observing 

 party, Jukes and McLatchie engaged their attention by dancing 

 and " daffing." When the serious business was finished and the 

 descent had begun, the blacks shouted and signalled to others 

 below, who replied, and the whites began to suspect that they were 

 being betrayed into an ambush. The suspicion was justified when 

 they reached the bottom of the hill and made for the boats, and 

 a crowd of natives concealed in the bushes assailed their flank and 

 rear with a flight of SPEARS. Yule, at this time, was limping 

 painfully in the rear (being crippled with rheumatism), and was 

 followed by a sailor named Bayley, who carried the artificial- 

 horizon box. Jukes happened to look back just in time to see a 

 tall savage discharge a spear from a wimmera and transfix BAYLEY, 

 who DIED of the wound three days later. The post mortem showed 

 that the spear had passed from behind between the heads of two 

 ribs and the spine, splintering the bones, and then penetrated the 

 left lobe of the lungs all but an eighth of an inch. The spear was 

 barbed with a three-inch bone, wrought to an acute spindle- 

 shape, and this barb remained in the body when the spear was 

 withdrawn. 



Some random shooting into the scrub followed this act of 

 treachery, but no good could be done, and it would have been 

 mere folly to follow the natives into the jungle. 



The " Bramble " which had left the " Fly " at Cape Melville 

 about a week before the end of June, rejoined her in Wreck Bay 

 (143 50' E. ; 12 10' S.). (ADMIRALTY CHART, No. 2920.) 



There is nothing in the narratives of Jukes or Blackwell to 



