PORT ESSINCxTON. 363 



Considering Port Essington as a harbour of 

 refuge for the crews of ships wrecked in Torres 

 Strait, it is certainly far removed from the scene of 

 distress ; and looking upon it in this light only, 

 a military station at Cape York would probably be 

 attended with greater benefit and less expense, 

 though, as it might be expected to meet with 

 annoyance from the natives of the islands in Torres 

 Strait, who are badly disposed and wander over 

 a great space in search of plunder, the party 

 should not be very small. There is, moreover, no 

 real harbour ; but, at the same time, as the post 

 would be on a low narrow projection, with a sea- 

 breeze sweeping over it in either monsoon, it would 

 doubtless be cooler than at Port Essington. 



I may observe that the only instance that came 

 under my immediate notice of the benefit of a har- 

 bour of refuge on the north coast, was that of a 

 vessel wrecked too far to the westward to reach 

 Cape York, the crew of which arrived at Port 

 Essinfjton in their boats. 



It was in some measure at the request of the 



and also tlie absence or scantiness of vegetables. Most of the 

 men, moreover, experience a constant yearning for home, which, 

 yearly increasing, terminates in despondency, and leaves them open 

 to the attacks of disease. Scorbutic symptoms were at one period 

 very prevalent, arising principally from the poor form of diet ; 

 similar cases occurred in a former settlement on that part of the 

 coast, from the same causes; but although Port Essington has 

 been of late visited by sickness, I do not consider it by any 

 means an unhealthy spot." 



