Nov. 9, 1857.] NORTH AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. 
13 
the rocks seemed hard and black like ironstone, and the rise of the 
tide was about 20 feet. 
On the 4th we steered for Point Dale, and next day were becalmed 
off the opening marked as a probable strait, which, but for the loss 
of time, I should have been glad to explore. 
On the 6th we landed at the mouth of a creek, but found it salt for 
a mile up and without water, except at tide time. In the afternoon 
we passed, as I believe, between the main and the land marked as 
Point Dale on Arrowsmith’s map, with a tide of nearly four knots 
setting to the N.W., or dead against us, and sometimes completely 
neutralising the boat’s progress. At sunset we reached the S.W. 
corner of the South Wessel Island, and, tracing up a small hollow, 
I found pools of water, containing several gallons each, and a 
native fire near them. 
On the 7th we were working along shore with a light breeze 
and contrary tide, when I saw two canoes coming off from a rock 
near the North Cunningham Island. They landed on Wessel 
Island, and seemed to bring down spears, which shortly after we 
saw them take into the large canoe, while they put the boys into 
the other, shouting to us occasionally as if friendly. I ordered the 
fire arms to be prepared and kept out of sight, wishing to abstain 
from hostilities as long as possible, and answered them in a friendly 
manner. They now made a trial of speed with us, and finding that 
they could paddle faster than we sailed, took up a position on our 
weather bow, and came on slowly, holding up junks of turtle, 
as if for barter, till they were near enough for one of them to throw 
a spear at us. It fell short, and he ordered the rest to paddle nearer 
and give him another, but at our first shot he dropped it and fell 
with the rest into the bottom of the canoe. Finding, however, that 
her sides were not bullet-proof, they jumped overboard and towed 
her away. Thinking them sufficiently punished, I did not pursue 
them ; but, to show the superiority of our weapons, fired a Minie 
ball over them as they landed at 600 or 700 yards’ distance. 
On the 9th we were nearly off the Truant Island, and sailing to 
the S. at the rate of 60 or 70 miles a day, passed Groote Island, 
and made the land to the S.E. of the Pellew Islands on the evening 
of the 12th. 
From this time we had easterly winds, against which we could 
not make head during the day, working round by N. to W. at night, 
and by S. back to E. before morning. Being now constantly at 
sea, we fitted up a preserved beef-tin as a furnace with another for 
a boiler, and, by burning the husks of cocoa-nuts dipped in oil and 
