264 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



to MacGillivray, " a very poor affair," and broke up in disorder 

 because of the distribution of biscuits having been entrusted to 

 one of the women. 



A fine fresh-water stream was discovered running into Muddy 

 Bay, and was named the MEW RIVER. As there was some good land 

 on its banks, MacGillivray considered this a good site for a SETTLE- 

 MENT, Port Essington having by this time been abandoned. 



On yd December, 1849, the " Rattlesnake " left Cape York and 

 anchored at ERNEST ISLAND, 27 minutes to the north. The island 

 is composed of syenite, rises to a height of 751 feet and contains a 

 village of 150 inhabitants. 



SUE ISLAND (142 50' E. ; 10 12' S.) is the central of the " THREE 

 SISTERS " GROUP, POLL ISLAND lying to the south and BET ISLAND 

 to the north. The group is about 21 minutes east of Ernest 

 Island. Sue Island, which is composed of coral sand, has a village 

 of sixty inhabitants and a coco-nut plantation. Seven men paddled 

 out to the " Rattlesnake " in a canoe and bartered tortoise-shell 

 for tobacco. The men " differed in no material respect " from 

 the natives of Prince of Wales and Darnley Islands. The " Rattle- 

 snake " anchored for the night of the 7th off the west end of the 

 reef which runs east and west (chiefly east) of BET ISLAND. 



On Sth December, the " Rattlesnake " sailed ENE. between 

 COCO-NUT and DOVE ISLANDS and anchored at ARDEN ISLAND to 

 the NE. A party landed on 8th December, but found no natives 

 in residence. She then proceeded to KEATS ISLAND, where she 

 anchored, having passed RENNEL and MARSDEN ISLANDS on the right. 

 The following day she anchored north of DARNLEY ISLAND, where, 

 on the nth, I2th and I3th, the usual bartering took place in the 

 villages. In addition to coco-nuts, sago palms and mangoes were 

 noted among the cultivated trees. The MUMMY of a child was 

 offered for sale, and over this deal friction arose, which at one time 

 threatened to develop into serious trouble. Huxley was allowed 

 to enter a hut and sketch its interior and contents. 



On \\ih December, the "Rattlesnake" proceeded to BRAMBLE 

 CAY, where some of the party landed, collecting turtles' and birds' 

 eggs. The booby was present in great numbers. 



On if)th December, the " Rattlesnake " left BRAMBLE CAY for 

 CAPE POSSESSION, New Guinea (146 20' E. ; 8 38' S.), and, two 

 days later, was at anchor in the lee of the Paiwara Islands, where 

 she lay for a week while Yule, in the " Bramble," surveyed between 

 CAPE DIRECTION and REDSCAR BAY, New Guinea. (ADMIRALTY 

 CHART, No. 2758 A.) Observations were made (for the second 

 time) to ascertain the height of MOUNT OWEN STANLEY (13,205 

 feet). 



On 6th January, 1850, the DUCHATEAU ISLANDS (152 25' E. ; 

 n 25' S.) were reached, and the survey of the LOUISIADE ARCHI- 

 PELAGO was entered upon. 



