DISCOVERIES IN AUSTRALIA; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE COASTS AND RIVERS EXPLORED AND SURVEYED DURING THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. BEAGLE, IN THE YEARS 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43. BY COMMAND OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY. ALSO A NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN OWEN STANLEY'S VISITS TO THE ISLANDS IN THE ARAFURA SEA. BY J. LORT STOKES, COMMANDER, R.N. VOLUME 1. LONDON: T. AND W. BOONE, 29, NEW BOND STREET. 1846. TO CAPTAIN ROBERT FITZROY, R.N. THE FOLLOWING WORK IS DEDICATED AS A TRIBUTE TO HIS DISTINGUISHED MERIT, AND AS A TOKEN OF HEARTFELT GRATITUDE AND RESPECT, BY HIS OLD SHIPMATE AND FAITHFUL FRIEND, THE AUTHOR. INTRODUCTION. I cannot allow these volumes to go before the public, without expressing my thanks to the following gentlemen for assistance, afforded to me in the course of the composition of this work: To Captain Beaufort, R.N., F.R.S., Hydrographer to the Admiralty, for his kindness in furnishing me with some of the accompanying charts; to Sir John Richardson, F.R.S; J.E. Gray, Esquire, F.R.S.; E. Doubleday, Esquire, F.L.S., and A. White, Esquire, M.E.S., for their valuable contributions on Natural History, to be found in the Appendix; to J. Gould, Esquire, F.R.S., for a list of birds collected during the voyage of the Beagle; to Lieutenants Gore and Fitzmaurice, for many of the sketches which illustrate the work; and to B. Bynoe, Esquire, F.R.C.S., for several interesting papers which will be found dispersed in the following pages. Captain Owen Stanley, R.N., F.R.S., also merits my warmest thanks, for the important addition to the work of his visits to the Islands in the Arafura Sea. I have to explain, that when the name Australasia is used in the following pages, it is intended to include Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and all the islands in the vicinity of the Australian continent. All bearings and courses, unless it is specified to the contrary, are magnetic, according to the variation during the period of the Beagle's voyage. The longitudes are generally given from meridians in Australia, as I much question whether any portion of the continent is accurately determined with reference to Greenwich. Sydney, Port Essington, and Swan River, have been the meridians selected; and the respective positions of those places, within a minute of the truth, I consider to be as follows: Swan River (Scott's Jetty, Fremantle) 115 degrees 47 minutes East. Port Essington (Government house) 132 degrees 13 minutes East. Sydney (Fort Macquarie) 151 degrees 16 minutes East. CONTENTS OF VOLUME 1. CHAPTER 1.1. INTRODUCTION. Objects of the Voyage. The Beagle commissioned. Her former career. Her first Commander. Instructions from the Admiralty and the Hydrographer. Officers and Crew. Arrival at Plymouth. Embark Lieutenants Grey and Lushington's Exploring Party. Chronometric Departure. Farewell glance at Plymouth. Death of King William the Fourth. CHAPTER 1.2. PLYMOUTH TO BAHIA.