Vol. X.l 



igio 



J Barrett, Expedition to Capricorn Group. iS/ 



Mast-Head Island. 



The party on JMast-Head Island, after the first uncomfortable 

 night, settled down happily. The days were found too brief for 

 the work to be done on the reef and ashore. There was no further 

 trouble in store, and the variety of interests was more than 

 sufficient to keep everyone busily and profitably employed. Mr. 

 C. A. Barnard, the leader, wisely made few camp rules ; but those 

 that were issued, for the good of all, were cheerfully obeyed, and 

 members lived in perfect harmony. Those who have done much 

 camping out know how largely the success of a camp depends on 

 harmonious social relations. Not only were the members of our 

 party on the best of terms, but each helped the others in their 

 special studies. Those who discovered nests did not immediately 

 take the eggs, but notified tlie photographers of their finds, and 

 allowed them to obtain pictures to their hearts' content. Again, 

 when some rare species was fished from the lagoon by a " bird " 

 man. he would hand it over to a marine zoologist for his collection. 

 Mutual help and good-fellowship were of the spirit of the camp. 



On the first morning the party, after a breakfast in the open air, 

 was divided into two sections for exploration work. Taking 

 opposite directions, the two little companies walked quietly round 

 the beach. Side excursions into the forest were also made, and when 

 the members gathered again at Sheoak Camp for lunch, notes were 

 compared, and it was agreed that the island was a little Paradise. 

 \\q found no reason to alter that conclusion as the days went 

 swiftly by — indeed, the impression was deepened, and when the 

 inevitable hour of departure arrived none was anxious to go. 



Our leader was generally astir each day before the flush of 

 dawn, and by 6 o'clock a dozen figures were splashing in the sea, 

 or dressing, after a swim, on the white beach. Owing to the 

 limited supply of fresh water, it was necessary to make one's 

 ablutions on the margin of the sea. The " hard " salt water 

 would not make friends with soap, so it was not easy to become 

 clean ; and by the end of our stay an appreciable amount of 

 " foreign matter " was ingrained with the tan on our faces. 

 Fortunately, the water supply was adequate, except on one occasion, 

 for drinking and culinary purposes. Gallons of " billy " tea were 

 consumed daily, for, after a few hours on the reef or in the scrub, 

 one returned to camp with a thirst that could only be quenched 

 by many brimming pannikins. Once only did the water fail, and 

 it was then that we realized the misery of a liquid famine. It was 

 not long, however, before the Endeavour appeared off the reef, 

 and our empty cans were replenished from her tanks. Three 

 regular meals were prepared daily by our excellent cook, but these 

 were supplemented by " morning " and " four o'clock " tea. With 

 pannikins and biscuits, members reclined in the shade of the 

 she-oaks — a pleasant break in the day's work. Breakfast at 

 7 a.m., dinner at noon, and tea before sunset — that was the order 

 of our " sit down " meals. Cook was kept busy, but he was a 

 cheery fellow, and unafraid of work. Of food we had an abundant 



