POUT HUMBOLDT, 
91 
off by the Dourga Strait. Nor is tlie northern coast of 
the great peninsula of New Guinea inferior in point of 
scientific interest, since the coast, for more than a hundred 
miles to the eastward of Kurudu, was found to be the 
delta of a large river, called Ambermo by the natives, 
which poured out so large a body of muddy water, as to 
form a bank extending at least thirty miles out to 
sea ; while most other parts of the coast were unfathom- 
able a few cables' lengths oflf shore. When this river 
comes to be explored^ the mystery that has hitherto 
enveloped the ethnography of New Guinea's interior will 
be in some degree dispelled. 
The chief object of the Dutch Expedition of 1850 was 
to examine Port Humboldt in lat. S° 20' S., and long. 
140° 47' E., with the view of forming a settlcmentj or 
rather to ascertain its capabilities for this purpose ; but 
after arriving in sight of the port, a strong south-east 
wmd, with a lee current, prevented the ^ Circe' from 
entering, and she retm-ned to Amboyna. The information 
collected appears, liowcver, to have been sufficient to 
authorise the government in coming to a decision, as 
an establishment was formed at Port Humboldt in the 
early part of 1 851^. The garrison, if it may be so called, 
consists of a party of burghers, or native militia of Ter- 
nate, a people by no means calculated to inspire respect 
in the stalwart and energetic Papuans. ^ 
It is to be hoped, however, that the favourable position 
of this port, as a refreshing station for ships that have 
crossed the Pacific from the west coast of America, will 
lead to the establishment being placed on a more sub- 
stantial footing. Certainly, the interests of commerce. 
