132 POET ALBANY AS 



digging in the bed of the lagoon. Nearly all the 

 grass is of a coarse sedge-like description^ mixed^ 

 however, in places with grasses of a finer kind. 

 Towards the end of the dry season, the grass, when 

 not burnt off by the natives, presents a most unin- 

 viting, withered appearance, being so dry as almost 

 to crumble into dust if rubbed between the palms of 

 the hand. 



As one of the more immediate beneficial results 

 of our survey of the Inner Passage, would be to 

 facilitate its use by steamers, should arrangements 

 at present contemplated for the continuance of the 

 ^'^ overland" communication between Great Britain 

 and India, fi-om Singapore to the Australian 

 colonies, by way of Torres Strait, ever be carried 

 into effect, so it was of importance to find some 

 place in the neighbourhood of Cape York, con- 

 venient as a coahng station during either monsoon. 

 An eligible spot for this purpose was found in Port 

 Albany, the name given by Lieut. Yule, who surveyed 

 it in 1846, to the narrow channel separating Albany 

 Island fi-om the main land. Here a small sandy bay 

 with a sufficient depth of water close inshore, was, 

 after a minute examination by Captain Stanley, 

 considered to be well adapted to the running out of 

 a jetty, alongside of which the largest steamer could 

 lie in perfect safety. This little bay has anchorage 

 close inshore for three or four vessels only, as a 

 little further out they would be in the stream of 

 tide which runs with great strength, especially in 



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