A FLYING VISIT TC DIRK HARTOG, ETC. 295 



and some pretty little beetles were found by examining flowers ; 

 while the dead shells of a small, but rather handsome Bulimus, B. 

 onsloivi, Cox, were plentifully scattered over the sand, though no 

 living examples could be found. The southern part of Dirk Hartog 

 Island has, I believe, been occupied as a sheep-run, but the 

 northern half is marked " uninhabited " on the chart ; and indeed 

 it seemed to me as if no human being had ever set foot on this 

 desolate shore. In accordance with a standing order of the ship, 

 I carried a navy revolver for defence against possibly hostile 

 natives, but here at any rate it seemed somewhat unnecessary. 



After walking along the top of the cliff for nearly a mile, I 

 saw the recall-flag hoisted on board the ship, and repaired with- 

 out further delay to the boat ; and the wind having moderated a 

 good deal, we left our anchorage in the afternoon for Geraldton, 

 in Champion Bay. On getting through the " Naturaliste Chan- 

 nel," between Dirk Hartog and Dorre Islands, into the open 

 ocean, we found the breeze still very strong and dead against us, 

 and a heavy head sea developed the capacity of the 'Penguin' for 

 pitching and rolling to its utmost extent. The next two days 

 were uncomfortable enough, as, although the weather was fine 

 and bright, the southerly gale was as strong as ever, and all the 

 steam-power which we could obtain with the detestable Australian 

 coal we had on board did not suffice to force the ship against the 

 head sea in the direction of Champion Bay. On the morning of 

 the 16th it became evident that, under the present circumstances, 

 our remaining supply of coal would not be sufficient to enable 

 us to visit that port and go on thence to Fremantle ; so our course 

 was altered for the Houtman's Abrolhos, to which we were now 

 quite close, and where it was proposed to remain until the 

 weather moderated. Towards noon the northern outliers of this 

 little archipelago of islets and coral-reefs were sighted, and 

 soon afterwards we were snugly at anchor, in smooth water 

 about a mile from the shore, under the lee of East Wallaby 

 Island. 



Although I regretted that our visit to Champion Bay, where 

 I had expected to meet with many fine beetles and other insects, 

 had to be postponed, if not altogether abandoned, I was by no 

 means sorry that this opportunity had occurred of landing upon 

 one of these remote and even now little-known islands. In many 



y2 



