During our visit to Port Essington, some of the changes among our officers, mentioned in the beginning of the work, took place.  Mr. Forsyth joined us from the Pelorus, and, from his knowledge of surveying, was a valuable addition to our party.

SKETCH OF VICTORIA.

Having said so much in relation to Port Essington on our former visit, and wishing to create among our readers an interest in the locality, we give a slight sketch of the appearance of the settlement from the anchorage, which will be more effective than our most elaborate description of it.

EVIL EXAMPLE OF CONVICTS.

Before taking leave of this new colony, we must at once express a hope that it will not be made a Penal settlement; not that we doubt the wonderful degree in which the convict system has hastened the prosperity of our possessions on the south-eastern part of the continent; but from the proximity of northern Australia to the islands in the Arafura sea—­the waters separating them being often navigable for boats—­the natives would be contaminated and vitiated, their women corrupted, and the badly disposed among the islanders rendered worse; and instead of our advent bringing with it the light of the gospel, and the real and substantial blessings of civilization, we should enjoy the unenviable privilege of still further degenerating the savage.  The evil thus caused in New Zealand has been incalculable; to the bad example of convicts we owe much of the ills which have there arisen; the fine fearless bearing of the wild man, has been partially exchanged for the low cunning, acquired from the runaway felon; who reckless of his own life can have no regard for that of others.  The worst crimes of the dregs of a civilized population have been introduced; and many of those wretched beings, who might otherwise have been reclaimed from the rude vices of savage life, have, through the white man’s instrumentality, perished in sin.*

(Footnote.  I knew an instance of a convict, who when dying actually picked a man’s pocket.  The ruling passion, strong in death, was here painfully exemplified.  J.L.S.)

The number of Malay proas that visit this part of the continent, would also furnish facilities for the escape of convicts from the neighbourhood of Port Essington.

We shall now fulfil our promise to the reader, of laying before him Captain Stanley’s interesting cruise to the islands we have just alluded to, which will occupy the remaining portion of the present volume.

CHAPTER 1.12.

Leave Port Essington. 
Reach Timor Laut. 
Meet Proas. 
Chief Lomba. 
Traces of the Crew of the Charles Eaton. 
Their account of the wreck and sojourn on the Island. 
Captain King’s account of the Rescue of the Survivors. 
Boy Ireland’s relation of the sufferings and massacre of the Crew. 
Appearance of the shores of Timor Laut.