i8o NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



" Midge," under Mr. Pym, and the second gig, under Mr. Harvey. 

 Mr. Millery is also mentioned as being in the gig as a volunteer. 

 Besides those named, there were twelve seamen. Dirty weather 

 set in and the boats and ships lost sight of one another. Captain 

 Blackwood's plans were upset and an earnest search for the boats 

 took the place of the projected survey. 



On 6th May, the " Fly " anchored at BRAMBLE CAY, and on 6th 

 and Jth she sailed northward towards AIRD'S HILL. 



No trace of the MISSING BOATS having rewarded the search, it 

 was resolved to return to DARNLEY ISLAND and enlist the services 

 of some of the friendly natives, to " explain " matters to the New 

 Guineans, and accordingly the anchor was dropped in TREACHEROUS 

 BAY on 24^ May. 



The island (which Jukes estimated to contain no more than 100 

 men of military age) was in a ferment, and something like civil war 

 was in progress. When, after a time, the position began to get 

 clearer to Blackwood and Jukes, the trouble appeared to resolve 

 itself into a trial of strength between Mammoos and Seewai and 

 their respective partisans a sort of tournament, in fact. The 

 islanders had seen and heard nothing of the missing boats, and had 

 no time for other people's affairs, and so turned deaf ears to the 

 proposal that either leader should withdraw himself from the 

 business in hand. Specifically and emphatically did they object 

 to visit " DOWDEE " (their name for the nearest portion of New 

 Guinea), whose people they feared and hated. 



In such a condition of affairs, the atmosphere is electric, and it 

 is not surprising that in a few days the strangers, hitherto treated 

 as friends, were subjected to an unprovoked assault. Blackwood 

 and Evans had been ashore taking a meridian observation, and when 

 they returned to their boat five ARROWS were discharged at them, 

 and muskets had to be fired in return. Happily, there were no 

 casualties on either side. 



At last the contending parties of natives met and " had it out " 

 with bows and arrows. There were only light wounds on either 

 side. Apparently somebody's, or everybody's, honour was satisfied, 

 and the affair was over, obviously to the great relief of all concerned. 



The peace, however, did nothing to overcome the reluctance of 

 the islanders to go to " Dowdee," and after promises had been made 

 and broken again and again, the idea of obtaining help from Darnley 

 Island had to be abandoned. 



The " Fly " left Darnley Island on 2jth May and joined the 

 " Prince George" at BRAMBLE CAY. 



On 2()th May, Blackwood and Jukes went on board the " Prince 

 George" and sailed to a point 24 miles north of 8 S. latitude, and 

 up a large inlet (AiRD RIVER) in 7 50' S., where they had a sharp 

 encounter with the New Guinea men, ten or twelve of whom were 

 shot, some, it was supposed, being killed. 



