SECOND VOYAGE FROM SYDNEY 179 



that the shore was lined with a continuous row of huts, each 

 enclosed in a courtyard of ten to twenty yards square, fenced with 

 bamboo. The interiors were neat and clean. The natural 

 products most in request were yams, plantains and coco-nuts, 

 which seemed to be parted with reluctantly ; on the other hand, the 

 market was, perhaps, overstocked with bows and arrows. Many of 

 the houses contained SKULLS, on which the tenants did not appear 

 to set much value. One skull was sold for a fig of tobacco. 



Blackwood and Jukes visited the smaller islands of the group, 

 DOWAR and WYER, in the " Midge" DARNLEY ISLAND is composed 

 of a lava-form hornblendic trap rock, with volcanic sandstone and 

 conglomerate. WYER and DOWAR are composed of volcanic 

 sandstone and conglomerate, dipping at high angles quaquaversally, 

 i.e., from the centre towards the circumference of the islands. 

 There is an igneous rock also in the centre of the coral ring known as 

 BRAMBLE CAY. 



On iqth April, Lieutenant Yule left with the " Bramble " for 

 Sydney, against the prevailing wind of the season. She was successful, 

 although Jukes remarks that the feat had only twice been attempted 

 before, first in the " Zenobia " by Captain Lihou, 1 and second by 

 Captain McKenzie in the " Heroine " (1845). On this southward 

 voyage, the " Bramble " surveyed the outside of the BARRIER REEF 

 from Lizard Island to 16 40' S. (south of TRINITY OPENING). (SEE 

 MAPS E AND G AND ADMIRALTY CHART No. 2759 A.) 



The " Fly " and " Prince George " finally left Murray Island 

 for New Guinea on 2ist April. (SEE MAP A.) On the 2$tb, they 

 anchored off the WARRIOR REEF, the eastern outline of which had 

 already been surveyed by the " Bramble." Thence they made 

 northward for BRISTOW ISLAND and the adjacent portion of the 

 NEW GUINEA coast, into which the FLY RIVER discharges its waters. 

 The sea-water was found to be barely salt 10 miles out from the 

 shore. 



Blackwood and Ince explored, with the " Fly's " gig (29th 

 April to ut May), the FLY RIVER, which was 5 miles wide at its 

 mouth. They found a depth of 4 fathoms, and the water quite 

 drinkable. They were not, however, allowed to go far without 

 opposition. A landing had been made on the north, or left, bank 

 of the river, when something like 500 men rushed at them from the 

 woods, and they retreated. They were no sooner in the boat than 

 a hot pursuit was commenced by four WAR CANOES, each containing 

 forty men. At nightfall the party in the gig shook off their 

 pursuers, and at midnight they reached the " Prince George " and 

 safety. 



The water was too shallow for the " Fly " and " Prince George" 

 and on 2nd May it was planned to outline the coast with the 



1 After whom is named PORT LIHOU, Prince of Wales Island (Admiralty Chart. 

 No. 2354). 



