6 
and proved to be the .common species A 
creeping vine was found, which bore the beau- 
tiful shining red and black seeds sometimes 
used for necklaces. A large yellow flower, 
something like a buttercup, was seen and 
pointed out by me to Mr. Walter, who was 
collecting for Dr. Mueller, of the Melbourne 
Botanical Gardens. One solitary Casuarina, 
stunted and broken, struggled for existence. 
Numerous curious nuts and fruits were cast 
up on the eastern beach, derived, no doubt, 
from the islands of the Pacific, and quantities 
of shells, more or less perfect, were to be 
seen ; from the pretty spirilla, like the volute 
of an ionic capital, to the shell of the pearly j 
nautilus. Some fine Tritons were procured 
on the reefs around, and a number of curious 
star fish and holothurise were collected. One 
of the star fish was of a beautiful light blue 
tint, but fades to a light buff. During our 
stay at Eclipse Island we had a fine bit of 
sport with the sharks. Broad-headed, shovel- 
nosed monsters, they were from 9 to 12 feet in 
length. Three specimens were hauled aboard 
and about seven others shot in the head with 
rifles and then released. Many who had been 
in the habit of taking headers from the ship’s 
side, ceased from this time to do so. From 
the great number of these animals and the 
ease with which they are captured, I feel con- 
vinced that a good trade might be carried on 
in the oil which the livers furnish in large 
quantities. Our sailors amused themselves in 
preparing and cleaning the jaws and back- 
bones, which are the only solid parts belong- 
ing to them. I took several parasites from 
these monsters, one was a curious leech of 
very large size and beautifully mottled with 
black and green, very much like the markings 
on a snake ; another was a brown fluke, about 
an inch in length, oval in shape, and quite flat ; 
a third resembled the common white cylin- 
drical worm, often found in the intestines of 
animals and even the human species, but was 
deeply imbedded in the muscular tissue from 
which I had some difficulty in extracting it. 
These specimens I forwarded to Mr. Krefft, of 
the Sydney Museum, who is at present enga- 
ged in their study and has already published 
a paper, with illustrations on the subject. I 
only obtained a few land shells, and might 
have been more successful in my searches for 
them had I been better acquainted with their 
habits, but Mr. Brazier,' of Sydney, obtained 
a good many, some of which were rare and of 
considerable interest. 
The evening before we took our departure 
from the scene of our heavy disappointment, 
we were visited by a schooner, which anchored 
near us. She proved to be the Matilda with 
a number of South Sea Islanders on board, 
and the captain of a vessel which was wrecked 
in Torres Straits. The latter was permitted 
to remain with us, as he wished to obtain 
assistance from Sydney as soon as possible. 
The captain and mate of the schooner re- 
ported that at no great distance, perhaps 10 
or 15 miles, they had a good view of the 
eclipse, which took them completely by surprise 
and they were not prepared to make any 
observations likely to be of any scientific 
value. But the account which they gave was 
consistent and rational enough, and they stood 
a long and separate examination at the hands 
of Professors Ellery and Wilson, remarkably 
well ; forcibly shewing that had we been as 
favorably circumstanced we should have had 
a great success. One of our gentlemen, an 
ardent collector of sea-shells, visited the 
schooner in hopes of meeting with something 
I good and rare, and paid handsomely for many 
specimens which, I was informed, could be 
had at a very reasonable rate in Sydney. 
Next morning we started early and made a 
good run, reaching No. G Island, of the 
Ho wick Group, where we anchored at about 
5 o’clock in the evening. Two boats went 
from the vessel’s side, but only one of the 
parties managed to get ashore by wading 
through the water, which the others declined 
doing, and contented themselves with the ser- 
vices of such seamen and assistants who did 
not object to submerging themselves, and for 
which services they, doubtless, were paid well, 
as a number of beautiful specimens of coral 
were obtained here ; in fact nothing got be- 
, fore could compare with them. They were of 
! various species, some very beautiful. Among 
| the branches were afterwards detected a num- 
| ber of small crabs and shells, which Mr. 
j Brazier very industriously fished out and pre- 
served. The party who succeeded in effecting 
i a landing found a few botanical specimens, as 
I the island appeared to be well wooded, and 
mangroves, which we had not seen much of 
hitherto, were plentiful around the beach. 
I At night the deck smelt decidedly fishy, and 
some objection was made to specimens lying 
about. There was great call for old packing 
cases and empty barrels, which the purveyor, 
Mr. Crookes,- would doubtless profit by. The 
1 evening was spent on deck in a very pleasant 
: manner, and a number of those musically in- 
clined, gave us a specimen of their abilities, 
some very good songs being sung on the 
occasion. Next day we started early, and 
! passed Lizard Island about 10 a.m., and about 
4 o’clock p.m. a range of high mountains 
j near Cape Tribulation. The summits of many 
j were cloud-capped and therefore invisible, 
but must have been very high. This part of 
the Australian coast has a greater elevation 
than any other part of Queensland, and with 
the exception of the Australian Alps, to the 
north of Victoria, is doubtless higher than 
any other part of this continent. Some of the 
summits of the Bellenden Ker Range are said 
to exceed 5000 feet in altitude, and lie a little 
to the south of our then present position. 
The atmosphere being hazy it was deemed 
prudent to anchor at night, which we did in 
the open sea, which was smooth and not deep. 
