398 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



After leaving his Camp 43, had Hann borne a little to the left he 

 would have dropped into the valley of the Endeavour instead of 

 into that of Oaky Creek and the Annan. 



Having forded the ANNAN about a mile up (south), Hann 

 followed its windings down for about 10 miles, and fixed his Camp 

 46 on some fresh water adjacent to the mangroves, the river itself 

 having by this time become salt. 



On 22nd September, leaving the other members of the party in 

 camp, Hann, Warner and Nation went 4 miles east till they were 

 in sight of the sea (WALKER BAY) at the mouth of the river. They 

 observed four NATIVES in a canoe. They selected a spot where 

 the horses might camp on good water and grass " in the vicinity 

 of a conspicuous hill on the south side of the river " (WALKER HILL). 

 Here they came on the remains of a DESERTED FISHING ESTABLISH- 

 MENT belonging to TOWNS & Co. CAMP 47 was settled here next 

 day (zyd September). 



Firmly convinced that he was now on the ground where 

 CAPTAIN COOK spent eleven weeks in 1770, HANN WAS DISAPPOINTED 

 and somewhat soured by his failure to follow Cook's description. 

 Naturally he " did not discover," as he says, " the spot used by 

 Captain Cook as a careening ground for his ship." He continues 

 (see Diary) : 



" This is an exceedingly pretty place, and it is much to be regretted that the 

 Endeavour does not hold out prospects for settlement, but there is nothing on it but 

 its beauty, that we have seen, that would induce anyone to come to it. The soil is 

 poor, therefore what else would induce people to come when so many other places 

 within easy communication with civilised parts are still open ? However, I shall 

 follow the river up as far as I can, and look to its mineral capabilities." 



In the Report he remarks : 



" The bay and its environs are exceedingly pretty ; for a settlement it would be 

 a charming place, being picturesque and compact, but when this has been said, all 

 has been said. From time to time, the Endeavour has cropped up as being a wonderful 

 place for many things ; amongst others some fabulous ideas were afloat about its richness 

 in gold. It has fallen to my lot to dispel these by pronouncing it, in mining 

 phraseology, a " duffer " : it has no gold, no good land, nor anything beyond scenery 

 and its pretty situation to recommend it." 



Fortunately, the Admiralty charts already showed that COOK'S 

 HAVEN was NO CHIMERA, and shipmasters had no difficulty in finding 

 it as soon as a convenient port for the Palmer Goldfield was called 

 for. Hann's report on the conclusion of his journey was followed 

 by the start of a prospecting party who proved the existence of 

 PAYABLE GOLD ON THE PALMER, and the establishment of the port 

 and the foundation of COOKTOWN were accomplished in the year 

 1873. In 1877, when I first saw it, the town was a busy centre 

 of distribution and contained more " first-class hotels " than I 

 dare to say. 



