l86 Barrett, Expedition to Capricorn Group. [,sf"Dec. 



fruits, and a convolvulus with immense leaves and large white 

 blossoms, were especially interesting. 



One of the merits of these coral islands is, as we discovered with 

 keen pleasure, that they are almost entirely free of the pests so 

 abundant on the mainland. During the nine days spent among 

 the Capricorns, not half a score of mosquitoes was seen or felt. 

 there being no fresh surface water for the larvae to thrive in. Sand- 

 flies and ordinary household tormentors also were among the 

 missing. It made our camp life a delightful holiday, having none 

 of these " little worries " about the dining place or in the tents 

 at night. Those of us who took part in the last A.O.U. camp-out, 

 on Eyre Peninsula, remembered how mosquitoes rendered the hot 

 nights at Warunda almost unendurable, and were grateful for 

 peace on the coral isles. 



Social Aspects. 



We had little or nothing to do with the domestic arrangements, 

 each party being provided with a cook, and thus were able to 

 devote all our time to scientific pursuits. Some hours, however, 

 were wisely given over to recreation. After a quiet ramble along 

 the beach, a row in the dinghy, or an hour's fish-spearing in the 

 lagoon, came meal time. Then, for those who favoured it, a 

 smoke in the shade, and a general chat for all. So the days 

 passed with both })arties swiftly and pleasantly, and the end 

 came only too soon. For the way of our life, despite some dis- 

 comforts incident to every camp that ever was or will be, con- 

 formed to the rules of healthful simplicity, and was full of 

 " sweetness and light." No member of the expedition is likely to 

 forget experiences that it has been the lot of few naturalists to 

 enjoy. The spirit of the camps was good, and no jarring note was 

 struck from the time the Endeavour left Gladstone, with the party 

 aboard, until she had fulfilled her mission with the R. A.O.U. 



The division of the party into two was necessitated by the size 

 of the islands. It would not have been so comfortable had one 

 large camp been formed on an island barely loo acres in extent ; 

 and it was desirable to have the two principal islands of the archi- 

 pelago thoroughly " worked." Captain White's party worked 

 North-West Island, North Reef, and Tryon Island, while the party 

 under ]Mr. C. A. Barnard investigated, besides Mast-Head, Erskine 

 and Heron Islands. The Endeavour visited North-West Island 

 and Mast-Head Island alternately, and was our general transport. 

 The time allowed for work ashore on the smaller islands was 

 necessarily brief, for it was expedient to make voyages only between 

 dawn and sunset, owing to the dangerous nature of the reefs, 

 which are set in a maze as a snare for ships. No inter-camp visits 

 were made, but a member of No. 2 party spent several, days with 

 Captain White's party in order to visit the islands which were 

 under his jurisdiction for the nonce. It will be convenient, 

 having generalized, to give a brief separate account of each party's 

 doings. 



