320 ITS ADVANTAGES. 



be a dangerous one— and protection would be 

 afforded to the coaling depot for steamers at Port 

 Albany.* 



4th. In a mihtary point of view the importance of 

 such a post has been urged upon the ground, that 

 in the event of war, a single enemy's ship stationed 

 in the neighbourhood, if previously unoccupied, could 

 completely command the whole of our commerce 

 passing through the Strait. 



6th. From what more central point could opera- 

 tions be conducted with the view of extending our 

 knowledge of the interior of New Guinea by ascend- 

 ing some of the large rivers of that country, dis- 

 emboguing on the shores of the Great Bight ? 



6th and lastly. But on this point I would advance 

 my opinion with much diffidence — I believe that 

 were a settlement to be established at Cape York, 

 missionary enterprize, judicioushj conducted, might 

 find a useful field for its labours in Torres Strait, 

 beginning with the Murray and Darnley Islanders, 

 people of a much higher intellectual standard than 

 the Australians, and consequently more likely to 

 appreciate any humanizing influence which might 

 be exercised for their benefit. 



Several kangaroos or wallabies, the largest of 



* I adduce this last advantage on the presumption, which now 

 assumes a greater degree of probability than before — that the 

 steam communication before alluded to (p. 132), will be estab- 

 lished, and that the Torres Strait route, the one which is almost 

 generally advocated, will be the one adopted. 



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