24 CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER 



higher in the scale of progression than it, imagination 

 delights to dwell upon the wonders which await the skill 

 of a horticultural genius. The crude beginnings of scores 

 of pomological novelties are flaunted on every side. The 

 patient man has to come. 



Early History 



To that grand old mariner, Captain Cook, belongs the 

 honour of the discovery of the island. The names that he 

 bestowed — ^judicious and expressive — are among the most 

 precious historic possessions of Australia. They remind 

 us that Cook formed the official bond between Britain and 

 this great Southern land, and bear witness to the splendid 

 feats of quiet heroism that he performed, the privations that 

 he and his ship's company endured, and the patience and per- 

 severance with which difficulties were faced and overcome. 



In his Journal, on 8th June 1770, Cook writes — "At 

 noon we were by observation in the lat. of 17° 59' and 

 abreast of the N. point of Rockingham Bay which bore 

 from us N. 2 miles. This boundary of the Bay is formed 

 by a tolerable high island known in the chart by the name 

 of Dunk Isle ; it lay so near the shore as not to be distin- 

 guished from it unless you are well in with the land. . . "At 

 this time we were in the long, of 213° 57,' Cape Sandwich 

 bore S. by E. J E. distant 19 miles, and the northernmost 

 land in sight N, J W. Our depth of water in the course of 

 this one day's sail was not more than 16 nor less than 17 

 fathoms." 



In those history-making days the First Lord of the 

 Admiralty was George Montagu Dunk, First Earl of 

 Sandwich, Second Baron and First Earl of Halifax, and 

 Captain Cook took several opportunities of preserving his 

 patron's name. Halifax Bay (immediately to the north of 

 Cleveland Bay) perpetuates the title ; " Mount " Hinchin- 

 brook (from his course Cook could not see the channel, 

 and did not realise that he was bestowing a name upon an 



