Discoveries in Australia, Volume 2 | Page 9

raft, they must have apprehended a fate at least as terrible as that of
being eaten.
The raft itself was quite a rude affair, being formed of small bundles of
wood lashed together, without any shape or form, quite different from
any we had seen before.
Bynoe Harbour was found to terminate in three deep creeks branching
off between North-East and South-East, the largest of which led into
fresh water, but in small detached pools, which are separated from the
salt, by a shelf of red porous sandstone, and which two miles further
became entirely lost in the rocks. The green appearance of the gumtrees
and an occasional clump of palms, which had pleasingly succeeded the
mangroves, as they advanced, assured Captain Wickham that there was
fresh water near. Probably, if they had carried their researches further,
they would have found these signs reappear again, doubtless
proceeding from a swamp, the presence of which the reader will
recollect I inferred from seeing the ibis flocking from the south-west up
the south inlet in Port Darwin; the west inlet of which is only one mile
distant from the north-east creek in the head of Bynoe Harbour.
Doubtless when the country is not in its present parched and thirsty
state, all these are fresh at their heads.
WELL AT PORT DARWIN.
The slow progress made in watering, from the soft nature of the soil in
the bottom of the well, lengthened our stay considerably in Port Darwin.
The water oozed through the sides, beginning to do so at a depth of
twenty-five feet. The strata cut through varied considerably, in part
consisting of ironstone mixed with a white kind of marl or pipeclay, for
eight feet, then sandstone of a reddish colour and in a state of

decomposition, with a darker kind of marl, in which were small bits of
mica, for a depth of sixteen feet, the remaining portion of two or three
being a sandy mud, apparently of the consistency of clay and of a light
grey colour. The position of this well is in a small valley at the east end
of the first sandy bay within Point Emery, in the centre of which the
observations were made, placing it in latitude 12 degrees 27 minutes 45
seconds, longitude 1 degree 19 minutes 40 seconds, East of Port
Essington.
On this beach several unsuccessful hauls were made with the seine,
though a few rare and curious fish were taken, which Lieutenant Emery
added to his collection of coloured drawings of Australian fish; some of
them will be found in the appendix to this volume. Mr. Bynoe also
obtained specimens of one or two rare birds; the large red-necked
vampire of the Adelaide River, and the cream-coloured pigeon before
alluded to, were also seen by him, being the farthest south the latter
was met with by us.
BRILLIANT METEORS.
Some brilliant meteors were observed during our stay, one in particular
on the evening of the 20th, in the West-North-West. It fell from the
zenith at an angle of about twenty degrees from a vertical line. The
descent was marked by a long train of light, visible ten seconds, while
others of less brilliancy followed from the same place within an hour.
Again on the 23rd, was the dark vault of heaven illumined about the
same time in a similar manner, as well as on the 28th; the number of
meteors being the same on each day.
We were rather surprised on the 24th, to experience a squall from the
eastward about midnight, a regular occurrence on the North-west coast
in January and February only.
VISITED BY NATIVES.
On the 24th a party of natives made their appearance on Point Emery.
Their voices, shrill like those of all their fellows, were heard before
they were seen. With these it was particularly so, though on all

occasions the speaking, and hallooing of the Aborigines can be heard at
a very considerable distance. They were found, when on shore, to be of
the party we had before seen in Shoal Bay, with the addition of five
strange men. All appeared actuated by the same friendly disposition, a
very strong indication of which was their presenting themselves
without spears.* Like most others on that coast, they had apiece of
bamboo, eighteen inches long, run through the cartilage of the nose.
Their astonishment at the size of the wells was highly amusing; sudden
exclamations of surprise and admiration burst from their lips, while the
varied expressions and play of countenance, showed how strongly their
feelings were at work within.
(*Footnote. Speaking of natives appearing without spears, reminds me
to mention for the information of future explorers, that their arms are
always near at hand. They even trail them sometimes between their toes,
a fact which travellers should