WHITE— A Sketch of the Life of Samuel White. 125 



his way on land, with but one companion, into the interior 

 beyond Lake Hope. This trip took some considerable time, 

 and the naturalist met with great difficulties in getting part 

 of his collection within the bounds of civilization. After some 

 minor expeditions in 1868 he traversed the greater part of 

 Queensland, landing at Cleveland Bay, and following the 

 River Burdekin for a few hundred miles. His brother, 

 William, accompanied him on this trip, and suffered so much 

 from the effects of it that he has never ventured on another. 

 Fever, ague,, encounters with the blacks, and being reduced 

 to a state of starvation were amongst the privations these 

 venturous ornithologists had to endure. On his return to his 

 home Mr. Samuel White informs us that he discovered a 'fair 

 specimen' that he captured by fairer means than by the use 

 of his rifle — his wife, and after the wedding tour in England 

 he made another exploring trip to Cleveland Bay, Cooktown, 

 and Trinity Bay, and in the dense tropical forests there caught 

 the fever, and was laid up for a considerable time. He would 

 have died had it not been for the attention and kindness of 

 the natives, He was taken by a Batavian steamer to the 

 nearest point to New Guinea — Thursday Island — and after 

 that spent some considerable time on the south coast of New 

 Guinea, principally in the Papuan Gulf, on Yule Island up 

 the Katow River, and often in company with the Torres Strait 

 'pirates.' He was quite alone, but went amongst the natives 

 and 'pirates' with perfect immunity from harm. He describes 

 the 'pirates' as being a most genial and hospitable set of 

 pearlers, and says he was never better treated in his life than 

 on the shell boats which belonged to them. During the 

 twelve months he was on the New Guinea coast he collected 

 about 800 bird skins, and since his return twelve months ago 

 he has stored them away till his return from the next expe- 

 dition. Unable to rest ashore, and enjoy the quiet routine of 

 life at the Reedbeds, Mr. White has determined upon making 

 another exploring expedition to New Guinea, and for that 

 purpose has had constructed a schooner yacht of 80 tons, in 

 which he will sail for his destination to-day. He will take his 

 wife and family with him to Sydney. Two naturalists, or taxi- 

 dermists, will accompany the expedition, Mr. F. W. Andrews, 

 who is well known in this Colony, and Mr. J. Cockrell, who has 

 collected largely in the Southern seas. A captain, chief officer, 

 and twelve hands will compose the crew. Mr. White has 

 named the craft the 'Elsea,' after his wife. He proposes to 

 finish fitting out in Sydney, then to proceed with all haste up 

 the coast to catch the first of the south-east trade winds, pro- 



