Page:Picturesque New Guinea.djvu/402

 established a camp some distance from the vessel, and meant to try and cut inland from there, when, on August 23rd the waters again rose, and we steamed further up. On August 24th and 25th we again cut inland in hopes of seeing the mountains, and attained a position of 250 feet high, by climbing a tree on the top of a hill, but could find no trace of highland or clear country. We proceeded further up the river, searching vainly for the mountains, until we finally grounded, on August 27th, where, as has already been related, the "Bonito", remained until October 21st. But not without incident, for on the 31st instant, the gravel washing away from under her caused a capsize, and it was only by the great exertions of the party that the provisions were landed, and most likely a great disaster averted, the capsize taking place in the middle of the night, and the vessel filling with water almost immediately. The conduct of the party on this occasion is deserving of the highest praise. After this we housed all our stores on shore, half of us camping and half remaining on board. In the midst of our troubles we had a visit from hostile natives, who luckily were dispersed without bloodshed. After righting the "Bonito", drying and housing our stores, we again tried to cut inland, but found too many difficulties in the way to hope for any success in gaining the mountains in that way; so after two or three preliminary excursions in which we could find no definite traces of mountains or open country, I organized a boat expedition, and on September 16th, left Mr. Hemsworth in command on board the "Bonito", with the following party:—


 * Dr. Bernays, in charge of sick, which numbered seven.
 * Senior, sick.
 * Vogan, sick.
 * Bauerlin, to continue his collecting.
 * Gechan, engineer.
 * Malays—Mandore, sick, boil and fever.
 * Carpenter, cut his leg half through with an axe.
 * Barabas, foot injured.
 * Fireman, ditto.
 * Anchises, fever and unsound.
 * Lous, cook, troubled with fever and not fit for hard work.

We broke up the camp on shore, having previously built a house for the provisions under the bank where it was covered by the rifles of the "Bonito."

The whale-boat party consisted of Dr. Haacks, Messrs. Froggart, Shaw, Creagh (Sub-leader), Waddick, six Malays—the only sound ones at my disposal—and myself.

We named our station here "Observatory Bend;" it is in lat. 6" 38' 30" S.