l82 Barrett, Expedition to Capricorn Group. [ist^'Dec 



porting baggage to and from the vessel and the islands on 

 which the camps were made. The men always manned the boats 

 with cheerful alacrity, and the best thanks of members of the ex- 

 pedition are due to them. 



The following persons (exclusive of two cooks) took part in the 

 expedition : — A. J. Campbell (president), D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., 

 Charles L. Barrett, J. A. Leach, M.Sc, Dr. Chenery, E. Brooke 

 NichoUs, J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., Z. Gray, L. Harrison, H. Burrell, 

 C. Coles, D. B. Fry (Australian Museum), C. A. Barnard 

 (leader No. 2 party), F. L. Berney, Capt. S. A. White (leader 

 No. I party), J. F. Mellor, J. W. Mellor (vice-president), 

 S. S. Stokes ; Mesdames J. F. Mellor, J. W. Israel, H. Burrell, S. A. 

 White, and Miss Mellor ; while Mr. J. Wild (Queensland Museum) 

 remained on board the Endeavour. 



The Start. 



We cast off from the Gladstone jetty early on the morning of 

 8th October, with the pilot aboard. The voyage across the blue 

 Pacific was smooth and pleasant. No member of the expedition 

 suffered from the motion of the boat. Dotted about the deck 

 in groups, we talked of the future, and speculated on what our 

 experiences would be on the islands we had travelled so far to 

 see. There was much to interest during the hours of seafaring — 

 things new and strange to most of us. We watched with delight 

 the flying-fish that leaped from the blue water, to go skimming 

 for hundreds of yards above the surface before disappearing 

 again. Then there were the porpoises at the steamer's prow, 

 swimming with ease and grace ; they accompanied us for 

 miles. The sea was streaked with " whale food," a yellowish 

 substance, that caused much speculation as to its origin : but no 

 satisfactory explanation was forthcoming. Thousands of delicate 

 medusae went drifting by, and sometimes a shark or other large 

 fish was seen. 



We had left port shortly after 6 o'clock, and about noon a grey 

 shadow, that had been visible for an hour on the horizon, took 

 form and shape. It was North-West Island, the largest of the 

 group, and the one on which it had been decided No. i party, 

 under Captain S. A. White, of South Australia, should camp. 



The Capricorn Islands, lying at the southern extremity of the 

 Great Barrier Reef (from which they are separated by Curtis 

 Channel), are pseudo-atolls. It is not safe for a large vessel to 

 approach closely the fringing reefs ; so the Endeavour anchored in 

 8-J- fathoms, and the boats were soon bumping alongside, ready 

 to take the members of Captain White's party, with the baggage, 

 ashore. The five ladies went in the first boat, the men following, 

 with the bulk of the stores, &c., in the other. It was a long pull 

 to the shore ; but Captain Cartwright had timed the steamer's 

 arrival off the island to be at flood-tide, and the boats were able 

 to pass over the reef and make the beach. The stores were quickly 

 landed, and soon all members of the party were busy preparing 



