FIRST VOYAGE FROM SYDNEY 177 



ward. On the $th, they entered the reef by a small opening in 

 10 i' S., and reached MURRAY ISLAND the same day. (SEE MAP A.) 

 The highest point of the large island was estimated at 700 feet 

 (modern charts make it 750). Many huts were observed and the 

 INHABITANTS were numerous and eager to trade. In fact, they were 

 so numerous and so hearty in their manners, when Blackwood landed 

 on the 6th, accompanied by Jukes and Melville (artist) and exchanged 

 iron for coco-nuts, turtle-shell and bows and arrows, that he feared 

 his men might be hustled, with an undesirable collision as the 

 probable result. Jukes observed that the whole of the lower portion 

 of the island, and even a good part of the hill slopes, were covered 

 with a continuous plantation of COCO-NUTS. 



Murray Island was left behind on the Jth, and the survey was 

 extended to MOUNT ADOLPHUS ISLAND (nth). Jukes climbed 

 Mount Adolphus (518 feet) and observed that this and the whole 

 of the York Islands (meaning, apparently, Mount Adolphus and the 

 smaller islands in the vicinity) were composed of porphyry. 



On i^th August, 1843, the ships passed north of WEDNESDAY 

 ISLAND and hove to off BOOBY ISLAND for a visit to the " POST 

 OFFICE." The log-book and a bag of beef and some biscuits were 

 observed. The " Fly " then sailed to PORT ESSINGTON, TIMOR, 

 the SWAN RIVER and TASMANIA. 



2. SECOND VOYAGE FROM SYDNEY AND CRUISE IN 

 TORRES STRAIT, 1844-5 



The " Fly " left Sydney on 22nd March, 1844, accompanied 

 by the " Bramble " (Lieutenant Yule) and a small revenue cutter 

 named the " Prince George" and sailed direct to RAINE ISLAND, 

 where a party under command of LIEUTENANT INGE landed on 

 2jth May. (ADMIRALTY CHART, No. 2354.) Their primary 

 business was the erection of a BEACON on the island to mark what 

 was believed to be a safe passage through the Barrier Reef for 

 ships coming from the east. A tank and some necessary timber 

 were obtained from the wreck of the " Martha Ridgway," but 

 other building material had to be cut or quarried from various 

 islands or the mainland. The work was not completed until the 

 middle of September. 



As there was no anchorage close to Raine Island, the " Fly " 

 lay about twelve miles to the south-west, under the shelter of the 

 " GREAT DETACHED REEF," while the smaller vessels were fetching 

 and carrying for the party camped on the site of the beacon. The 

 " Fly " herself had to keep in touch with, and serve as a base for, 

 the party operating on the island, but she managed, with the assis- 

 tance of the " Prince George" to put in a good deal of surveying 

 and sounding between Raine Island and Endeavour Strait. From 

 Stb August to 2$tb September, the "Bramble" (Lieutenant Yule) 



I 12 



