Narrative Of A Survey Of The Intertropical And Western Coasts Of Australia

VOLUME 1.

VIEW IN RAFFLES BAY, WITH CROKER'S ISLAND IN THE DISTANCE. From a sketch by P.P. King. Published in May 1825 by John Murray, London....

9 minute read

Read Chapter

PREFACE.

THE rapidly-increasing importance to which the English Colonies in Australia have now arrived, rendering every subject connected with that extensive continent of the greatest interest, whether in respect to its geography, or the extraordinary assemblage of its animal and vegetable productions, has induced me to publish such parts of my Journal as may be useful to accompany the Atlas of the Charts of the Coast recently published by the Board of Admiralty. One of the results of this voyage has bee

3 minute read

Read Chapter

INTRODUCTION.

Nearly three centuries* have now elapsed since our first knowledge of the Great South Land, the Terra Australis Incognita of ancient geographers; and, until within the last century, comparatively little had been done towards making a minute exploration of its coasts: during the seventeenth century several voyages were made by different Dutch navigators, from whom we have the first-recorded description of its shores; but from the jealous disposition of their East India Company, under whose orders

22 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 1.

1817. December 21. At the time that the Mermaid was ready to commence her voyage, it was the season when the westerly monsoon blows over that part of the sea which separates the islands of Timor and New Guinea from Australia; it was therefore necessary, in order to benefit by the direction of the wind, to commence the survey of the coast at its western extremity, the North-West Cape: but, to do this, the passage was to be made, by taking the western route, as it is called; that is, by passing ei

2 hour read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 2.

1818. March 6. The south-east wind, which set in on the morning that we left our anchorage off Depuch Island, continued to blow with thick misty weather, and made us conjecture that the westerly monsoon was nearly expended; we, therefore, steered off the coast with the intention of proceeding to the eastward towards Cape Arnhem, after ascertaining the position of a shoal that was seen by Captain Rowley, in H.M.S. Imperieuse, in 1800, and of two others that are described by Captain Horsburgh to b

2 hour read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 3.

1818. June 5. As soon as we anchored, I waited upon Mr. Hazaart, the Dutch Resident, who received me politely, and proffered his personal assistance in expediting the objects which we had in view. A house was offered for my use, but as I purposed to make my visit as short as possible, it was declined. June 5 to 13. The first object was to commence our watering, but the operation was tedious, and attended with much delay, since it was necessary to send the casks above the second bridge which cros

26 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 4.

1818. December. The construction of the charts of the preceding voyage, together with the equipment of the vessel, fully occupied me until the month of December; when, having some time to spare before we could leave Port Jackson on our second voyage to the north coast, in consequence of its being the time when the westerly monsoon prevails, I acquainted His Excellency the Governor of my intention of surveying the entrance of Macquarie Harbour, which had lately been discovered on the western coas

13 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 5.

1819. February 15 to May 7. Between the period of my return from the Derwent and the second week of March we were prevented from making any preparation for our second voyage to the North Coast by an unusual continuance of the heavy rains incident to that season; which caused three floods on the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers and did considerable damage to the ripening crops. This unfavourable weather so retarded our equipment that it was the middle of April before we were ready for sea; after whic

54 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 6.

1819. June 28. As soon as the vessel was secured, the boat's frame was landed, and three of our people commenced its erection. Previously however to this, the precaution was taken of burning the grass, to avoid a repetition of the revengeful and mischievous trick which the natives formerly played Captain Cook; for in a fit of rage, at not being allowed to take away some turtles that were lying on the ships' deck, they set fire to the grass to windward of the tents, by which many stores and sails

39 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 7.

1819. July 26. On our voyage from Torres Strait to the western head of the Gulf of Carpentaria, which is Cape Arnhem, no incident occurred of sufficient interest to be worth recording; but no sooner had we passed Torres Strait than a very sensible difference was perceived in the temperature: the thermometer was observed to range between 75 and 83 degrees, which was about 3 degrees higher than it did on the south side of the Strait; this change produced a drier air and finer weather and soon rest

2 hour read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 8.

1819. October 1. We had now reached a part of the coast which, excepting a few of the islands that front it, the French expedition did not see: we should therefore have commenced its examination with more pleasure had we been in a state better fitted for the purpose; for we were rapidly consuming our stock of water without any prospect of finding a supply at this season; and this, added to the loss of our anchors, considerably lessened the satisfaction we should otherwise have felt in viewing th

38 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 9.

1820. June 21. In preparing our little vessel for a third voyage, it became requisite to give her a considerable repair; and among many other things there was an absolute necessity for her being fresh coppered; but from the pretended scarcity of copper sheathing in the colony and other circumstances that opposed the measure, we found more than a common difficulty in effecting it. The cutter was careened at a place appointed for the purpose on the east side of Sydney Cove; and whilst undergoing h

49 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 10.

1820. August 17. We did not leave our anchorage off Booby Island until the next morning, in order that we might obtain sights for the watches, and have the advantage of daylight for passing over the position assigned to a shoal, said to have been seen by the ship Aurora. After weighing we steered West-South-West for sixty miles without seeing any signs of it; and on this course our soundings very gradually increased to thirty fathoms. August 18 to 19. On our passage across the Gulf of Carpentari

2 hour read

Read Chapter

VOLUME 2.

ENTRANCE OF OYSTER HARBOUR, KING GEORGE THE THIRD'S SOUND. Interview with the Natives. From a sketch by P.P. King. Published in May 1825 by John Murray, London. ...

10 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 1.

1820. December 6. As soon as the opportunity offered after our arrival, the cutter was laid on shore upon the beach of Sydney Cove, and surveyed by the master and the carpenter of H.M. Store-Ship Dromedary, which ship was preparing for her return to England with a cargo of New Zealand spars. Upon stripping the copper off the bottom, the tide flowed into her, and proved that to the copper sheathing alone we were indebted for our safe return. The iron spikes that fastened her were entirely decayed

38 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 2.

1821. July 9. Our course was held to the south-west towards Cape Londonderry; on which, with a fresh South-East wind, we proceeded with rapidity. July 12. On the morning of the 12th, Eclipse Hill and Sir Graham Moore's Islands were seen, and in the afternoon we passed Troughton Island; at sunset, Point Hillock bore South thirteen miles, whence we steered to the West-North-West and North-West, and rounded the north end of the long reef, to the westward of Cape Bougainville. July 13. The next morn

19 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 3.

1821. November 10. On the 10th November we were ready for sea. November 15. But, from various delays, did not quit the port until the 15th. At midnight we passed round the Morne Brabant, and the next evening at sunset saw the high land of Bourbon: for the first two days we had south-east winds and upon reaching the parallel of 25 degrees, the winds became light and baffling with calms. November 21. But as we advanced more to the southward they gradually veered to east and north-east, and afterwa

37 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 4.

1822. January 6. We sailed from King George's Sound on the 6th. January 8. But from south-westerly winds, were no further advanced by the 8th than the meridian of Cape Chatham. After which, entering a current setting at one mile an hour to the westward, the brig made considerable progress. January 10. At daylight, 10th, Cape Leeuwin came in sight from the masthead, and at eight o'clock was seen from the deck at the distance of ten leagues, bearing North 42 degrees East by compass. At this, the s

2 hour read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 5.

1822. April 25 to September 25. Upon an examination of the brig's defects after our arrival at Port Jackson her stern and cut-water were found so defective as to require a considerable repair; but from the difficulty of procuring seasoned wood, so long a time elapsed before it was effected that we were not ready for sea until the beginning of September, when other delays of minor importance detained us until the 25th. At Port Jackson I found orders from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty t

22 minute read

Read Chapter

APPENDIX A.

Previously to entering into the detail of the following coast-directions, in which it has been attempted, for the sake of a more easy reference, to collect all the nautical information under one general head, it may be proper to premise that Captain Flinders, in the account of his voyage,* has given two very useful chapters upon the winds and weather that may be experienced upon the various coasts of this continent; as well as information respecting its general navigation and particular sailing-

44 minute read

Read Chapter

APPENDIX B.

CONTAINING A LIST AND DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBJECTS OF NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTED DURING CAPTAIN KING'S SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL AND WESTERN COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. Previously to the establishment of the British Colony at Port Jackson, in the year 1787, the shores of this extensive continent had been visited by very few navigators who have recorded any account of the productions of its Animal Kingdom. The first authentic report that we have, is that of Vlaming, who is celebrated as the first discov

4 minute read

Read Chapter

VERTEBRATA.

BY JOHN EDWARD GRAY, ESQUIRE, M.G.S., ETC. 1. Pteropus edwardsii, Desm. Mamm. 109. Madagascar Bat, Edwards' Birds, t. 108. Vespertilio vampyrus, Lin. Syst. Nat. 1 45. Flying Fox, Colonists of Port Jackson. This specimen, caught at Point Cunningham on the North-west Coast, appears to agree with Edwards' figure, and with the specimen preserved in the British Museum. There is also one in the collection of the Linnean Society from Port Jackson. Large flights of these animals were observed at Port Ke

4 minute read

Read Chapter

AVES.

THIS COLLECTION HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, IN WHOSE CABINETS THEY ARE NUMBERED ACCORDING TO THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE HERE INSERTED. 1. Halcyon sacra. Swainson. Alcedo sacra, Ind. Orn. 1 250. Sacred Kingfisher, Latham, 4 25. This bird was taken at sea, in the neighbourhood of Cambridge Gulf, on the North-west Coast, having probably been blown off by a strong land wind. 2. Barita tibicen. Cuvier. Coracias tibicen, Ind. Orn. sup. 27. Piping roller, Latham, 3 86. 3. Barita varia.

9 minute read

Read Chapter

REPTILIA.

BY JOHN EDWARD GRAY, ESQUIRE, M.G.S. Capite depresso; membrana tympani aperta. Gula pennulis plicatis ornata. Pedibus quatuor. Digitis quinque, elongatis, simplicibus. Cauda elongata, subcylindrica. Animal scaly; the head depressed; the nostrils placed on the side, midway between the eyes and the end of the head; the drum of the ear naked; the front teeth conical, awl-shaped (eight in the upper, and four in the lower jaw); the hinder ones largest; the side or cheek teeth compressed, short, formi

13 minute read

Read Chapter

PISCES.

BY JOHN EDWARD GRAY, ESQUIRE, M.G.S. 1. Tetraodon argenteus. Lacepede, Ann. Mus. 4 203. Icon. Ann. Mus. l.c. t. 58. f. 2. 2. Chironectes tuberosus, G. Cuvier, Mem. Mus. 3 432. Icon. -- There are two other species of this genus in Captain King's collection, which appear to be new. 3. Balistes australis. Donovan. Naturalist. Repos. 26. Icon. l.c. 4. Teuthis australis (n.s.). T. fusca, fasciis sexta transversis nigro-fuscis, cauda truncata. Icon. -- Body brown, paler beneath, with six transverse bl

2 minute read

Read Chapter

ANNELIDES.

1. Leodice gigantea. Savigny Syst. des Annel. page 49. Lam. 5 322. Eunice gigantea, Cuv. Reg. Anim. 2 524. Nereis aphroditois, Pall. Nov. Act. Petrop. 2 229. table 5. figure 1.7. Terebella aphroditois, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 3114. The specimen brought by Captain King is nearly five feet long, and was procured at the Isle of France....

16 minute read

Read Chapter

ANNULOSA.

CATALOGUE OF INSECTS, COLLECTED BY CAPTAIN KING, R.N. BY WILLIAM SHARP MACLEAY, ESQUIRE, A.M., F.L.S. The collection consists of one hundred and ninety-two species, of which one hundred and thirty belong to the class Mandibulata, fifty-eight to Haustellata, and four to the Arachnida. Eighty-one of the species are new, and the extent to which each order of winged insects has been collected, will be best understood from the following summary. COLUMN 1: MANDIBULATA. COLUMN 2: HAUSTELLATA. 108 Coleo

35 minute read

Read Chapter

CIRRIPEDES.

Anatifera sulcata. Gray, Ann. Phil. 1825. Pentalasmis sulcata, Leach. Montague, Test. Brit....

3 minute read

Read Chapter

RADIATA.

1. Echinus ovum ? Peron and Lesueur. Lam. Hist. 3 48. This specimen, presented to the Museum, agrees very well with the short description given by Lamarck of this species. 2. Echinus variolaris. Lam. Hist. 3 47. This specimen, agreeing very well with the description of one found by Peron, is very remarkable; and has the larger area agrulate and ornamented with two rows of white tubercles, nearly as large as those in the genus Cidaris; the pores in the upper part are not perforated, and are place

1 minute read

Read Chapter

ACRITA.

1. Tubipora musica. Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1 3753. Lam. Hist. 2 209. Icon. Seba. Mus. 3 t. 110. f. 8, 9. Soland. and Ellis. t. 27. According to Peron, the animals of this coral are furnished with green-fringed tentacula. 2. Pavonia lactuca, Lam. Hist. 2 239. Madrepora lactuca, Pallas, Zooph. 289. Icon. Soland, and Ellis, t. 44. 3. Explanaria mesenterina, Lam. Hist. il. 255. Madrepora cinerascens, Soland. and Ellis. Icon. Soland. and Ellis, Number 26. t. 43. 4. Agaricia ampliata, Lam. Hist. 2 243. Madr

2 minute read

Read Chapter

MOLLUSCA.

BY JOHN EDWARD GRAY, ESQUIRE, F.G.S. 1. Solenomya australis. Solemya Australis, Lam. Hist. 5 489. Mya marginipectinata, Peron and Lesueur 2. Mactra abbreviata ? Lam. Hist. 5 477. n. 20. Icon. -- This collection contains a considerable number of specimens of a shell agreeing with the short specific character given by Lamarck of the above; but as it has not been figured, I have referred to it with a mark of doubt. The shells are rather solid, white, or white variegated with purple, with numerous c

6 minute read

Read Chapter

2. COCHLEOPHORA.

26. Trochus caerulescens. Lam. Hist. 7 18. Icon. Ency. Meth. plate 444. f. 2. a, b. Inhab. South-west Coast. Lamarck describes this shell from a specimen found by Peron. 27. Trochus noduliferus, Lam. Hist. 7 18. 28. Monodonta conica (n.s.) Testa conica, acuta, imperforata, spiraliter striflto-costata, rufa; costis subtuberculatis, albo-nigro-articulatis; apertura sulcata. Inhab. -- Mus. Brit. Shell conical, axis longer than the diameter, the whorl flattened with six spiral raised substriae, whic

20 minute read

Read Chapter

PTEROPODA.

108. Janthina fragilis, Lam. Syst. Anim. Janthina communis, Lam. Hist. 6 2. 206. Helix janthina, Lin. Sys. Nat. 1 1246. Icon. Lister. t. 572. f. 24. Chemn, 5 t. 166. f. 1577, 1578. Several specimens of this shell were taken by the towing-net in the Indian Ocean, on the passage from the Coast of New Holland to Mauritius. 109. Janthina exigua, Lam. Hist. 6 2. 206. Two or three species of this shell were presented to the Museum by Mr. Hunter, the surgeon to the expedition; it is proved to be very d

47 minute read

Read Chapter

CEPHALOPODA.

111. Spirula fragilis, Lam. Syst. Anim. 102. Spirula australis, Lam. Ency. Method. 465. f. 5. a. b. Spirula peronii, Lam. Hist. 7 601. Nautilus spirula, Lin. Syst. Nat. 1163. Nautilus spicula, Gmel. 3371. Icon. Lister Conch. t. 550. f.2. Martini. 1 Veg. 254. t. 20. f. 184, 185. Ency. Method. ut supra Animal. Captain King brought home several minute species of Nautilus, which will be taken notice of at a future period, as they require particular examination and minute comparison with those found

40 minute read

Read Chapter

A FEW GENERAL REMARKS ON THE VEGETATION OF CERTAIN COASTS OF TERRA AUSTRALIS, AND MORE ESPECIALLY OF ITS NORTH-WESTERN SHORES.

BY MR. ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, COLLECTOR TO THE ROYAL GARDENS AT KEW. It having been resolved by the British Government to employ a colonial vessel from the settlement of Port Jackson in New South Wales, for the purpose of exploring the whole of the North-western Coasts of New Holland, and that portion of the North Coast, not seen by that able navigator, the late Captain Flinders; a most favourable opportunity was thereby afforded for a partial examination of the plants of those unknown shores, with a

43 minute read

Read Chapter

A LIST OF PLANTS COMMON TO THE EAST AND NORTH-WEST COASTS OF TERRA AUSTRALIS, IN AND ABOUT THE PARALLEL OF FIFTEEN DEGREES SOUTH, WHERE THE BREADTH OF CONTINENT EXCEEDS 1800 MILES.

Gleichenia Hermanni, Br. Eriocaulon fistulosum, Br. Philydrum lanuginosum, Gaertn. Flagellaria indica, L. Dioscorea bulbifera, L. *? Pandanus pedunculatus, Br. Cycas angulata, Br. Santalum oblongatum, Br. Exocarpus latifolia, Br. Persoonia falcata, Br. Grevillea mimosoides, Br. Hakea arborescens, Br. Buchnera ramosissima, Br. Adenosma coerulea, Br. Orthostemon erectum, Br. Tabernaemontana orientalis, Br. Carissa ovata, Br. Strychnos lucida, Br. Alyxia obtusifolia, Br. Ipomoea longifiora, Br. Ipo

1 minute read

Read Chapter

A LIST OF PLANTS OBSERVED DURING THE LATE VOYAGES ON THE SHORES OF TERRA AUSTRALIS, THAT ARE ALSO COMMON TO INDIA OR SOUTH AMERICA.

Acrostichum alcicorne, Sw. Polypodium acrostichoides, Sw. Nephrodium exaltatum, Br. Nephrodium unitum, Br. Vittaria elongata, Sw. Asplenium nidus, L. Daval1ia flaccida, Br. Gleichenia Hermanni, Br. Flagellaria indica, L. Dioscorea bulbifera, L. Calladium ? macrorhizon, Willd. Aristolochia indica, L. Daphne indica, L. Salicornia indica, Willd. Deeringia celosioides, Br. Plumbago zeylanica, L. Dischidia nummularifolia, Br. Acanthus ilicifolius, L. Acanthus ebracteatus, L. Ipomea Turpethum, Br. Ipo

55 minute read

Read Chapter

CHARACTER AND DESCRIPTION OF KINGIA, A NEW GENUS OF PLANTS FOUND ON THE SOUTH-WEST COAST OF NEW HOLLAND: WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE STRUCTURE OF ITS UNIMPREGNATED OVULUM; AND ON THE FEMALE FLOWER OF CYCADEAE AND CONIFERAE.

BY ROBERT BROWN, ESQUIRE, F.R.S.S.L. AND E. F.L.S. (READ BEFORE THE LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON, NOVEMBER 1 AND 15, 1825.) In the Botanical Appendix to the Voyage to Terra Australis, I have mentioned a plant of very remarkable appearance, observed in the year 1801, near the shores of King George the Third's Sound, in Mr. Westall's view of which, published in Captain Flinders' Narrative, it is introduced. The plant in question was then found with only the imperfect remains of fructification: I judg

41 minute read

Read Chapter

APPENDIX C.

AN ACCOUNT OF SOME GEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS, COLLECTED BY CAPTAIN P.P. KING, IN HIS SURVEY OF THE COASTS OF AUSTRALIA, AND BY ROBERT BROWN, ESQUIRE, ON THE SHORES OF THE GULF OF CARPENTARIA, DURING THE VOYAGE OF CAPTAIN FLINDERS. BY WILLIAM HENRY FITTON, M.D., F.R.S., V.P.G.S. [READ BEFORE THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, 4TH NOVEMBER, 1825.] The following enumeration of specimens from the coasts of Australia, commences, with the survey of Captain King, on the eastern shore, about the latitude of t

21 minute read

Read Chapter

GEOLOGICAL REMARKS.

1. The rocks, of which specimens occur in the collections of Captain King and Mr. Brown, are the following: Granite: Cape Cleveland; C. Grafton; Endeavour River; Lizard Island; Round Hill, near C. Grindall; Mount Caledon; Island near C. Arnhem; Melville Bay; Bald-head, King George's Sound. Various Slaty Rocks: Mica-State: Mallison's I. Talc-State: Endeavour River. Slaty Clay: Inglis' I., Clack I., Percy I. Hornblende Rock ?: Pobassoo's Island; Halfway Bay, Prince Regent's River. Granular Quartz:

30 minute read

Read Chapter

DETAILED LIST OF SPECIMENS.

The specimens mentioned in the following list have been compared with some of those of England and other countries, principally in the cabinets of the Geological Society, and of Mr. Greenough; and with a collection from part of the confines of the primitive tracts of England and North Wales, formed by Mr. Arthur Aikin, and now in his own possession. Captain King's collection has been presented to the Geological Society; and duplicates of Mr. Brown's specimens are deposited in the British Museum.

20 minute read

Read Chapter

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING GEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS.

It so often happens that specimens sent from distant places, by persons unpractised in geology, fail to give the instruction which is intended, from the want of attention to a few necessary precautions, that the following directions may perhaps be useful to some of those, into whose hands these pages are likely to fall. It will be sufficient to premise, that two of the principal objects of geological inquiry, are, to determine, first, the nature of the MATERIALS of which the earth is composed; a

8 minute read

Read Chapter

APPENDIX D.

COMPARATIVE TABLE OF THE LANGUAGES OF THE NATIVES, WITH SOME GENERAL REMARKS. COLUMN 1: ENGLISH WORD. COLUMN 2: CALEDON BAY, GULF OF CARPENTARIA. FROM CAPTAIN FLINDERS. COLUMN 3: ENDEAVOUR RIVER, NORTH-EAST COAST. PARTLY FROM CAPTAIN COOK AND MR. FORSTER. COLUMN 4: KING GEORGE THE THIRD'S SOUND, SOUTH-WEST COAST. COLUMN 5: PORT JACKSON. COLUMN 6: BURRAH BURRAH TRIBE. FROM MR. SCOTT. COLUMN 7: LIMESTONE CREEK. FROM MR. OXLEY. COLUMN 8: PORT MACQUARIE. FROM MR. HUNTER. COLUMN 9: MACQUARIE HARBOUR,

6 minute read

Read Chapter