Yet the little settlement at Port Essington has not been altogether useless.  The knowledge of the existence of such a military post, within a few days’ sail of the islands in question, together with the visits of Commander Stanley in the Britomart, had completely prevented a repetition of the outrages formerly committed upon European trading vessels at the various islands of the group extending between Timor and New Guinea.  The crews and passengers of various vessels wrecked in Torres Strait had frequently found in Port Essington a place of shelter, after six hundred miles and more of boat navigation, combined with the difficulty of determining the entrance, owing to the lowness of the land thereabouts, which might easily be passed in the night, or even during the day, if distant more than ten or twelve miles.  I have myself been a witness to the providential relief and extreme hospitality afforded there to such unfortunates.  Still, as a harbour of refuge, it is obvious that Cape York is the most suitable place, situated as it is within a short distance of the spot where disasters by shipwreck in Torres Strait and its approaches have been most frequent.

Port Essington has sometimes been alluded to as being admirably adapted for a depot from which European goods can be introduced among the neighbouring islands of the Indian Archipelago, but on this subject I would perfectly coincide with Mr. Jukes, who states:  “Now, the best plan for a vessel wishing to trade with the independent islands, obviously, is to go to them at once; while she has just as good an opportunity to smuggle her goods into the Dutch islands, if that be her object, as the natives would have if they were to come and fetch them from Port Essington.”

NATIVES OF THE COBOURG PENINSULA.  THEIR ORNAMENTS AND WEAPONS.

The natives of the Cobourg Peninsula are divided into four tribes, named respectively the Bijenelumbo, Limbakarajia, Limbapyu, and Terrutong.  The first of these occupies the head of the harbour (including the ground on which the settlement is built) and the country as far back as the isthmus—­the second, both sides of the port lower down—­the third, the north-west portion of the peninsula—­and the last have possession of Croker’s Island, and the adjacent coasts of the mainland.  From the constant intercourse which takes place between these tribes, their affinity of language, and similarity in physical character, manners, and customs, they may be spoken of as one.

The Aborigines of Port Essington scarcely differ from those of the other parts of Australia—­I mean, there is no striking peculiarity.  The septum of the nose is invariably perforated, and the right central incisor—­rarely the left, is knocked out during childhood.  Both sexes are more or less ornamented with large raised cicatrices on the shoulders and across the chest, abdomen, and buttocks, and outside of the thighs.  No clothing is at any time worn by these people, and their ornaments