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CHAPTER XLIX
MORESBY
FIRST CRUISE OF THE "BASILISK" TO TORRES STRAIT, 1871
CAPTAIN MORESBY TAKES STEAM CRUISER "BASILISK" BY INNER ROUTE TO CAPE YORK. CARRIES HORSES AND STORES FOR SOMERSET. ABUSES IN LABOUR TRAFFIC. MEETS AND TAKES POSSESSION OF SCHOONER " PERI," WITH THIRTEEN SOLOMON ISLANDERS. THEIR STORY. CARGO OF KIDNAPPED ISLANDERS TAKEN TO FIJI BY THE " NUKALOW " AND HIRED OUT. ElGHTY TRANSFERRED TO " ?ERI " FOR CONVEYANCE TO OTHER ISLANDS OF FIJIAN GROUP. SHORT RATIONS AND HARSH TREATMENT AT SEA CAUSE RISING. WHITE OFFICERS AND FIJIAN CREW THROWN OVERBOARD. SOLOMON ISLANDERS IGNORANT OF NAVIGATION. " PERI " DRIFTED 1,800 MILES. STARVATION. ONLY THIRTEEN OF THE EIGHTY MEN LEFT. THESE TAKEN TO CARDWELL. AFTERWARDS TO SYDNEY AND ULTIMATELY RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES. FRANK JARDINE AT SOMERSET. THE ABORIGINES. CHARTING IN TORRES STRAIT. MORESBY ROCK. SADDLE AND GABBA ISLANDS. MOURILYAN REEF. PEARL-SHELLING AT GABBA. INQUIRY INTO RECRUITING IN THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS FOR PEARL-SHELLING INDUSTRY. DOUGLAS AND CHESTER AGREE IN DENOUNCING ABUSES. LEGISLATION FOLLOWS. LICENSING AND GOVERNMENT SUPERVISION OF LABOUR VESSELS AND CONTRACTS WITH LABOURERS. CHARTING SAIBAI ISLAND. WARRIOR ISLAND. A POWERFUL TRIBE. COMPARATIVELY ADVANCED NATIVES. PEARL-SHELLING STATION. MISSIONARIES (NATIVES OF LOYALTY GROUP) FROM CORNWALLIS AND SAIBAI ISLANDS BEGGING AT WARRIOR ISLAND. " BASILISK" THROUGH BASILISK PASS. To LIZARD ISLAND. To COOK'S LANDING-PLACE IN ENDEAVOUR ESTUARY (COOKTOWN FOUNDED Two YEARS LATER). To CARDWELL. BRIG " MARIA," WITH PROSPECTORS FOR NEW GUINEA, WRECKED ON BRAMBLE REEF. CAPTAIN AND Six MEN MAKE FOR CARDWELL IN BOAT. LAND AT TAM O' SHANTER POINT. CAPTAIN AND THREE MEN KILLED BY NATIVES. THREE MEN REACH CARDWELL. THE BOAT FOUND BY LIEUTENANT SABBEN, WHO HAD HURRIED IN GIG FROM CARDWELL. HEAVY ATTACK ON SABBEN'S PARTY BY NATIVES REPULSED. Two RAFTS AND THREE BOATS LEAVE THE WRECK. NINE MEN CLINGING TO RIGGING OF SINKING SHIP. BOATS REACH CARDWELL AFTER GREAT HARDSHIPS. MATE, IN CHARGE OF ONE BOAT WITH THIRTEEN MEN, GOES MAD. TATE, ACTING SURGEON,WAS IN CHARGE OF Two BOATS WITH FlFTEEN MEN. " BASILISK " REACHES CARDWELL. POLICE MAGISTRATE REQUESTS NAVAL ASSISTANCE. MORESBY LENDS A LIEUTENANT AND FOURTEEN MEN, WHO JOIN NATIVE TROOPERS IN A VISIT TO SCENE OF CAPTAIN'S DEATH. " BLOODY VENGEANCE." " BASILISK " TO COOPER'S POINT AND RESCUES ElGHT MEN OUT OF THE THIRTEEN ON THE LARGER REEF. THEY HAD BEEN KEPT ALIVE BY THE KlNDNESS OF THE NATIVES, WHO GAVE THEM FOOD. SMALLER RAFT (CARRYING TWELVE MEN) FOUND. ALL THE MEN HAD BEEN KILLED. "BASILISK " TO PERCY ISLAND, ROCKHAMPTON, BRISBANE AND SYDNEY, 6TH APRIL, 1871.
HER Majesty's cruiser " Basilisk," commanded by CAPTAIN (afterwards Admiral) JOHN MORESBY, R.N., was a paddle-steamer of 1,031 tons burthen and 400 horse-power and carried five guns.
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