308 NO HARBOUR WANTED. 



the dreary monotony of Port Essington has had its 

 evil influence on those stationed there. As far as 

 my own personal feeling goes, if I were condemned 

 to either, I would rather live at Cape York for five 

 years than at Port Essington for two. 



One objection might be raised by a person unac- 

 quainted with the place, which is, that there is no 

 harbour there. In the sense of a small space of sea 

 having anchorage, and almost surrounded by conti- 

 nuous land, this is perfectly true, but the fact is, 

 such a harbour is not needed. The sea is perfectly 

 smooth. No ground swell ever penetrates into 

 Torres Strait, at all, so defended is it by the coral 

 reefs. During the season, when vessels are passing, 

 the wind is always S.E., from which the land about 

 Cape York shelters the anchorage. During the 

 N.W. monsoon, anchorage may be found at the 

 entrance of Endeavour Strait, perfectly sheltered 

 from all N.W. winds. The post might be situated 

 thereabouts if water should be found, and sufficient 

 grass land and garden ground. 



There is another set of arguments on which I 

 have not touched, because they would be based on 

 what as yet has no existence, steam communication 

 between India and New South Wales. When this 

 is brought into operation, it appears to me that 

 Cape York must necessarily be one of the coal sta- 

 tions. It is by far the most convenient place I 

 know for such a purpose in these seas, as 1 have no 

 doubt a wooden pier could be run out from a rocky 



