250 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



and the natives pointed towards the hill which had already been 

 indicated by Jackey. Doubts as to the reality of the friendliness 

 of the natives were allayed by the presence of some women and 

 children in the canoes. CAPTAIN DOBSON wrote a NOTE TO CARRON, 

 which was given to one of the natives, who was instructed by 

 gestures to take it to the camp. A boat followed the canoes and 

 CAPTAIN DOBSON, BARRETT, DR. VALLACK and JACKEY-]ACKEY 

 LANDED among the mangroves. Having at length cleared the swamp, 

 the party followed up a creek, for about 2 miles, when Jackey- 

 Jackey exclaimed, " See, two white fellows sit down and camp." 

 The NATIVES, who had been " DEMONSTRATING," must have WITH- 

 DRAWN on the approach of the boat party. " On the other side 

 of the hill," says Dr. Vallack, "not two hundred yards from us, 

 were TWO MEN sitting down, looking towards us, the tent and fire 

 immediately behind them ; and on coming up to them, two of 

 the most pitiable creatures imaginable were sitting down. One 

 had sufficient strength to get up ; the other appeared to be like 

 a man in the very last stage of consumption. Alas ! alas ! they 

 were THE ONLY TWO LEFT of the eight, the remainder having died 

 from starvation." 



Dr. Vallack continues : 



" Whilst here we were considering what was best to be done, when NATIVES in great 

 numbers were descried watching our movements. Jackey said, " Doctor," calling me 

 aside, " now I tell you exactly what to do. You see these black fellows over there " 

 (and in pointing to them I saw a great number, some 800 yards away, peeping from 

 behind trees), " you leave him tent, everything, altogether, there, and get the two 

 white fellows down to the boat quick." Jackey was exceedingly energetic, and grave 

 as well. " Get away as quick as possible " was resounded by all, but what was to 

 be done F Two MEN ALMOST DEAD to walk 2 or 3 miles ! We looked over the 

 tent, asked Carron for what important things there were, and each laid hold of what 

 appeared to be of most value, the Captain taking two sextants, other parties, firearms, 

 etc., etc. " Come along," again and again Jackey called out, and the Captain too, 

 whilst they were half-way down the creek, and Barrett and I loaded ourselves. I 

 took a case of seeds, some PAPERS OF CARRON'S, a double gun and pistols, which, 

 together with my own double gun and brace of pistols, thermometer l and my pockets 

 full of powder and shot, was as much as I could manage. Seeing CARRON COULD 

 NOT GET ALONG, I told him to put his hands on my shoulders, and in this way he 

 managed to walk down, as far or nearly through the mangrove swamp, towards the 

 water's edge, when he could not in that way get any further, and BARRETT, with his 

 disabled arm, CARRIED HIM down to the edge of the water. GODDARD, the other 

 survivor, who was JUST ABLE TO WALK down, spoke and looked exceedingly feeble. 

 They were brought on board at noon, and attended to according to my instructions. 

 Carron's legs were dreadfully swollen, about three times their natural size, from oedema. 

 In the afternoon both reviving and thanking God for their deliverance. I was for 

 some time afraid of Carron. At 10 p.m., they are both doing well, and I trust will 

 be enabled to tell us their tale, which will render it unnecessary for me to write it 

 down here. I told the Captain to proceed direct on to Sydney, Jackey, Carron 

 and Goddard and the Captain stating it would be running too great a risk to go to 

 recover anything from the tent. Moreover, with so small a party as the Captain, 

 Jackey and myself (BARRETT really being UNFIT to go, and the SAILORS all REFUSING to 



1 The broken one. R. L. J. 



