CHAPTER 2.9.  GULF OF CARPENTARIA.

Boat expedition. 
Explore an opening. 
Discovery of the Albert. 
Natives. 
Picturesque Scenery. 
Hope Reach. 
Birds and Fishes. 
Upper Branch. 
Beauty of the Landscape. 
Land excursion. 
The Plains of Promise. 
Halt the party and proceed alone. 
Description of the country. 
Return down the Albert. 
Mouth of River. 
Arrive at Van Diemen’s Inlet. 
Find Mr. Fitzmaurice severely wounded. 
General result of the survey of the Gulf. 
Winds and Temperature. 
Booby Island. 
Endeavour Strait. 
Reach Port Essington.

ANOTHER BOAT EXPEDITION.

Mr. Fitzmaurice reported so favourably of the last opening he discovered, bearing West by South fifteen miles from the ship, that I determined on making up a party to explore it, while another expedition, consisting of the yawl and whaleboat, was to examine the coast to the eastward from Flinders River to Van Diemen’s Inlet.  My party, including Lieutenant Gore and Messrs. Forsyth and Dring, left the ship with the gig and the other whaleboat on the evening of the day we returned from the Flinders.

The prospect that lay before us raised our spirits to the highest; and the weather, clear, cool, and bracing, could not have been more favourable, the temperature being 60 degrees.  The ripples rolled rapidly, expanding from the boat’s bows over the glassy smooth surface of the water, whilst the men stretched out as if unconscious of the exertion of pulling, every one of them feeling his share of the excitement.  From the western sky the last lingering rays of the sun shot athwart the wave, turning it, as it were, by the alchemy of light into a flood of gold.  Overhead, the cope of heaven was gradually growing soberer in hue from the withdrawal of those influences which lately had warmed and brightened it; but in the west a brilliant halo encircled the declining ruler of the day.  In these latitudes the sunset is as brief as it is beautiful.  Night rapidly came on, and presently the masts of the ship could no longer be discerned, and we were pursuing our way in darkness towards the mouth of the opening.

After vainly endeavouring to get over the bank extending off the mouth of the opening, in the dark, we anchored the boats outside.  The awnings were spread, and the kettle for our evening’s meal was soon hissing over a blazing fire.  Of all things tea is the most refreshing after a day of fatigue; there is nothing that so soon renovates the strength, and cheers the spirits; and on this occasion especially, we experienced a due portion of its invigorating effects.  Grog was afterwards served out, pipes and cigars were lighted, the jest was uttered, the tale went round; some fished, though with little success; and the officers busied themselves with preparations for the morrow’s work.  But all things must end; the stories at length flagged; the fishermen grew tired; and getting into our blanket bags, with a hearty good night, we resigned ourselves, with the exception of the look-out, to the arms of slumber.