114 THE HEAD OF THE AUSTRALIAN BIGHT 



crew of three men and a boy, started on what I consider 

 the most adventurous journey I have ever made. 



The Swan was purchased at Sydney (where her owner 

 called her the Esmeralda)^ but sent round to Adelaide, as 

 the most convenient port for my purpose, to be fitted out. 

 She was rather old, and her burden was only twenty-four 

 tons, and it was predicted that she would prove to be my 

 coffin, which, I must confess, it is a wonder she was not. I 

 believe my men thought no great things of the proposed 

 voyage, but good wages induced them to take the risk. 

 Fearing that my friends would interfere and stop my 

 preparations, I said nothing of my intentions either at 

 Sydney or Adelaide, and it was supposed that I was only 

 using the little vessel for a pleasure trip from port to port 

 along the coast. Even that was thought a risky proceeding 

 in so small a ship, if ship I may call her, for she was only 

 partly decked, and her small cabin and store-room were 

 scarcely larger than lockers. 



At the last moment one of the men repented of his 

 bargain and left me, and I had to replace him with the 

 only man who was immediately available — a Hollander. 

 I have a dislike of foreign seamen, but the sturdy Dutch- 

 man proved a good man and true ; and as he had been a 

 fisherman, and used to small craft in his own country, he 

 was particularly useful on the present service. 



We left Largs Bay on 28th March 1888, but were 

 twice beaten back by strong north-west breezes at the 

 head of Investigator Strait, and were obliged to put into 

 Nepean bay. Kangaroo island, for shelter. It was not until 

 the 5th April that we succeeded in clearing the land and 

 putting the head of the tiny Swan towards Fowler's bay, a 

 spot ever memorable as the site of the gallant Eyre's 

 depot camp. For several days it was calculated that we 

 did not make more than eighty miles in the twenty-four 

 hours. This was as much owing to heavy seas, which 

 prevented headway being made, as to adverse winds, 

 though these last were troublesome. We were swept out 

 of our course, and abandoned the intention of making 

 Fowler's bay. Long rolling seas came in from the south- 



