Discoveries in Australia, Volume 2 | Page 8

piece of bark or a large shell. By tapping also the knotty
excrescences of trees they find the fluid, which they suck out. Many of
these modes of obtaining water are of course known to experienced

bushmen, like Mr. Eyre, whose deeply interesting narrative of his
hardships and perils has already enlisted the sympathy of the public.
September 12.
We moved the ship into Port Darwin, anchoring just within the eastern
cliffy head which, to commemorate Lieutenant Emery's success in
finding water by digging, we named after him.
SURVEY OF THE HARBOUR.
All the surveying force was now put in instant requisition; Captain
Wickham went to examine an opening in the coast mentioned by
Captain King, lying about twelve miles further to the westward, whilst
the other boats explored the openings at the head of the harbour.
That on the eastern part, Mr. Fitzmaurice traced ten miles in a
south-easterly direction, being the greatest distance it was navigable for
a boat. The remaining branch in the large opening, in the south-eastern
corner of the harbour, Mr. Forsyth and myself explored
South-South-East three miles, and South-South-West five more, the
extent to which it was possible to advance. Beyond, it was strewed with
large blocks of granite; a fact, for which we were in some degree
prepared, as in the vicinity of the Adelaide River we had proof of the
primary formation of this part of the continent. As the boat lay scarcely
afloat between two of these lumps of rock, numbers of white ibises,
with black necks, kept flying over us from the southward, indicating
that a swamp lay in that direction. We also disturbed several alligators,
who slid off quietly into the water at our approach. There was no
variety in the shores of this inlet, composed like all the others, of an
impenetrable network of mangroves. A ridge of the same
conical-shaped low hills before alluded to, as existing in this
neighbourhood, rose upon our right as we came up, and bore from our
furthest North by West two miles; from the highest part up the inlet in
the south-west corner, east two miles.
The latter we found very tortuous, extending in a general direction
south nine miles. No events occurred worthy of any remark during our

examination, except one of a trifling character: the mosquitoes taking
advantage of the calm, between the high mangroves on the banks,
attacked us most cruelly, a circumstance we mention as trifling, as far
as the reader is concerned, but of great moment to us.
After completing the survey of the southern and western portion of this
harbour, we returned to the ship, where soon afterwards Captain
Wickham also arrived, having found Patterson Bay to be a good port. It
trended in south ten miles, and East-South-East the same distance,
forming quite an inner haven, which was named after Mr. Bynoe.
NATIVES ON A RAFT.
At the turning leading from the outer to the inner harbour they came
suddenly in view of a raft making across, a distance of three miles, on
which were two women with several children, whilst four or five men
were swimming alongside, towing it and supporting themselves by
means of a log of wood across their chests. On perceiving the boat they
instantly struck out for the land leaving the women on the raft. For
some time the latter kept their position, waiting until the boat got quite
near, when they gave utterance to a dreadful yell, and assuming at the
same time a most demoniacal aspect, plunged into the water as if about
to abandon the children to their fate.
MATERNAL AFFECTION AND FEAR.
Not so, however; despite the dreadful fear they appeared to entertain of
the white man, maternal affection was strong within them, and risking
all to save their offspring, they began to tow the raft with all their
strength towards the shore. This devotion on the part of the women to
their little ones, was in strong contrast with the utter want of feeling
shown by the men towards both mothers and children.
Captain Wickham now, no doubt to their extreme consternation, pulled
after the men, and drove them back to the raft. Some dived and tried
thus to escape the boat, while others grinned ferociously, and appeared
to hope, by dint of hideous grimaces--such as are only suggested even
to a savage by the last stage of fear--to terrify the white men from

approaching. At length, however, they were all driven back to the raft,
which was then towed across the harbour for them; a measure which
they only were able to approve of when they had landed, and fear had
quite subsided.
Doubtless, the forbearance of our party surprised them, for from their
terrified looks and manner, when swimming with all their strength from
the