Papers of Cyril John Percy Hill - Part 2

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG0000179
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

Monday 21st Sep 22nd Sep 23rd Thuseay 24 49 H.M.S. 19 - cett ancher in Simpson Haven. Hands employed on several nicessary jois about upper dech. 6. FM weighed is proceebled on patrol no sign of enemy. Patrolling all day. Sighted nothing. Stinking hot 3 Pr Returned to harbour c made fart Salonynal Muresi (oil vissil) & commenced distilling fet her? 40 German poisoners sent aboard Murise, fet parsage to Sydney Ugly looking divils. Mise leaving tomorrow. 5.0 Destroyns got under way &s procuded to Micho Habour. Duke of Yorks Irlanc) Destroyers landed armed parties in different parts of harbout. Pariamatta in lucm. Discoused North German Sloyd steaner Ichlong stowed away up week not macked on chart Boarded her & took officers & crew prisoners & took charge of all arms & ammunition. Sel in command of fese cvew look her back to simpson Haven. meono very well hidden, ship smothered in bruch wood & patms impassible to see her from anchorage Boats crew only found her by a flutie. Captain very decent chap, guite soon to him. Been in hiding a festnight a hadly Iam food left. Unable to get any information about submasine. Anchord miahs off pur & handied her over to military. Returned on board Paranatta. Night patrol as urucil. Returned to havour at yAMA. Prisoners from Miah sent ashone of all stores itc handed an to Military Forty more J Goomans gave thenselves up. Had been rent from Williams Hewen to assist in defence of thobertshahe Wriched on ref. Set fire to steamer a get ashore in boats &
Sip 24 Sip 25. Sep 26 Dep 2728 29 9 30. Oct 1d 53 H.M.S. 19 a marched overland arriving too late to defend Hobertshohe. That accounts for sleamer we found stuck on relf. 15.30 Destroyers weighed & steamed to Northwards round New Britain in search of Comit Warrego c yarea searched Pendo Harbour & Parramatta again seasched Powel Habout Unable to find native who voluntiored information fabout Comet. Seasched native villiage & stole prg Agam spotted the alligator & fired at him of again mersed. Mut bea charmed life. Returned to Simpson Haven Gc information that rranct was in hiding in Rugin Harbour, Destroyers sent down to boot her out (Planet. amall Guoman couier) cbrowed at Rugen Habone sent captain of Parsamatta inrice habon in morer weae with white plag to call upon her to rumended. Destroyers remaining ontrule all reaely with lyddite. Planet not there (another dumny ren) sick of dumny runs. Planct had been inside navon quite slately. No information as to where she has gone, Retivned to habou nothing doing Wh He divil doesnt the Admisal send us oul to look for the enemy. Mut thirh enemy will dare to attach Simpser Haven. Silly eelss. O cl three distroyers patrolling every night cll hands of the cook fedt up cntoalia, Sychrey cs Encounter & Frentcalm lift harbort to look fir enemy leaving distroyers behind to protect te Pootd. Pow old clistroyers. Hope enemy dodge them & turn up here. No such luch. Destroyes patrolling all night as usual No sign of shifping of any dort. ORI
Oct 3rd Sut Oct 4 Sun bit 5 to Oct 15 Oct. 15h 57 H.M.S. 19 - Smoe rested on hrizon. Parramalta sent out to invertigate. Must be enemies cruisers dodged ond ships. Stand by fer some executment Turned out to be ond shiks returning. Admiral must have forgothen something. Procubly come back for his washing, Wonel what the next move will be. Wailing for Yass ships to find Geoman cousers o smarh them I suppose. Patcollin, all night as usual. Penceful day at anchor Simpron Haven. Play, & trentealm q Sydney sailed fer Sewva: Fije. Garra 1 trooper Berrunce left for Sydney. Encounter, Warregs Pursamatte & AE2 left in harbout. 3 PMr. Mlchips sailed for sever including Colleers. Oil & store ships. nothing left in habour at all. Troops occupying town y stranh entrinched terrible business to get micharltmen into station. On parsage from Simpson Haven to Fiji Conveyons s s. upon corange, Vaturia & Koolenga. cverage specc 6 knots. Strong S& trucke wind & lang s 2 swell vieven days bat rea. Mirt unconsertable time sever apent. Nothing to eat except tined ment & bescuits. AE 2 lowed h Uncounti. Warrego & Parsanatta secrtiny 3 miles ahead at night & stationed on beam of cncounte during the day. arried seva thamk gooclnes. Rowning like blazes. Flay Montcalm y Sydney lying pencefully at fancher. Harvour full of colliers & clove ships etc. sine llow out for supper. And an all night in Dont care if it mows inh now. No mail for us an arrival werse luch.
AU 10017 Oct 16th Oct 17t Sat. Oct 18 Sum Oct 19 Oit 20. Oct 21s Oct 22d Oded ship &s went alangncle Nirth Pier. Al piciful Ships company landed at 6Am fir virite march First time then had been ashore since leaven, Syclney with the exception of landing paties at Rubaoll & Hltohohe Australia, Montcalm & Encounter sailed for somewhere Got leave for the afternoon Had lunch at the Pacific Htotel & went fer a eny dowe. Seenery grand but roads terrible. Inspected native Fyi village. Went innice two huts. Natives very hospitable. Had some native grog which nearly menche ome rich. Returned in board at CDDr. First afternoon off for nealy three months. Get twed of waiting fir enemy so went down to Lanthula Harbend is regged battle presitue tuget on sumall island a rent ships company cshe for exercere. Warrego joined us at 638 AM. spread taget sail and at 9.30 opened fire on target at 1200 yets opening range. 10 rounds from each run. Shooting very good endeed Fanly reddled the twget & huscred the Irland into bits. Irland only about goyards bay & so broard with a few mangrove bushes in the censve. Mangroves suffered terribly. Ships companies of Warrege & Parramattu landled on mangled island a disported themselves in the sex duving the afternoon. Av Went back to Sea. PM rreed to enter Nai hguli Harbonr but Parecimatla ran ashine Huge excitment. Quchily ticle was resing & we got off in half an hour. Went back to Suber evertfallon, Again tackled Frar ngato, ths time ruccessful. Warregs Parsanclta morned behind small Irland. Very snug: Can see all suver habour without beeng seen from outrice. Cight a few fish. Went ashowe clusing enwith a gun I collaved from Mittory. Shot at a coane but bally gun would nt go Ooff. Came absard toon a Cludong. Junger awful thick.
Merregs, Paamatter w 142 liyng in Nar Egals Oct 23, 24 Harbone. Working cluren monings of franling letive, in aftercons fir buthen E. fuheny seevery round semply grancl. Wenth glasions sent out in pative 15 miles South of Susce 15 pM Oct 25 Sure sighled vessed sturing towards suver is toot hes to be re of and collin. Versel parsedl suver so thought the must be collic for Gean cruon who did nt know our suips were in the hubond. Gave chase. glle hi to atopangoes. No notice taken so feve 4 projictite aevrs hir bows, Very ren stoppec The turned out to be S.S Atua bounel round yr belonging to Melbourne Fro luch Returnisd to Suver, oiderhi Oet 26. 22. 28. In Mai Rgats Harbowe in compary with Wanrgo Yare &AE2 bey peaceful, made Pone ot two. excursions up mall oue. Palms & tree froms emply spiffens Bathed ioer, no crocks! Wate very clest conld the bottom earily at 15 ft Borled ond billy on the bank made tea. Shat at flying fin but missed him, Relincie to shik before t PM. Wat rens low was off in har ogala: Nalives very friendly Pluh of banawas punpans granadillas & exconilts. Weather perfect? Flay, montcalm & Encounte away No oe knows where. Suppere they are looking fet Shamhorst i heirnan
Regged stage on fale of Yarsar & gave setrensious concest Oct 29 to elite of siwa. Guents arrived 8.30 in motw boats from Siver. Dertragers lying almynde euch other. Yaosa centre ship. Yeus yaroe reclrved for Guerts & Iships companies. Dont Paramatton o Warreyo ladies of Sia, did nt ree one good looking one or one who could ring. All look warhed out Climale s suppose. Connot wiht off ver will. Supp OK. Gurts lift at Triclnight except mone who missed beat. Had to camp hom out in the wasd room rent him whose h. the bey boat in the morning Officers sliahtly bottled after gue to lift. One fill cbin egower miss jacher mct oears of minth Pasanatta & Yarva left Suver Harbon steereng 15 Int. Vit 30 Surth, then tunned y steaned back looking fo AE2 was gaing is aleuch us. About an mile off Harbout At 2 bobled up about 500 yords from us having blown us shy hogh. Dertrayers f Buomacine then proceded to Mhelan Gal & anchoricl. In afternon landed watch os batted pirled & explored the Irlanc Bater lovity im shaks Parranatta on patrol. Watrego Yarra in Det 31st Mnuhulan Harbour enjoying themselves
Nov 1 to hor 8 ett suva doing nothing except patrol Flayship, Montcalm & Enconkter went to rea occasionally for two at three days at a time but could nt find anything. Rumours of fight off Valpauiso bitweek ont Allantic flut & Schamnhost Lepsig huvenburg a one other. No paticulare Destionss odered to Sydney to clock Nhor s. t I1. At sea in parsage from Siven to Tubmnea (New Calidonia) arewed at hownea & went alongncle whaf. Whole, Nov 11 town turned out to meet us. Huge excutment Ships companies emplaye accupning gifes of frut it from truch who evedently regarded us as heros. Leave aanked duiing afternoon in which ships companies got blend chounh fer nothing Evening Chaos French seamen & soldies dunth. Our own men werse French sincin Ged some the King & our chaps trying to ising the Marchalarre. Fight between Warregss of AF. 2 Parranaltas fighting amring thenselves 4.30 por Lift howmea Ler Syclnin. Ships comfances Ner 12th very much the werse for weat. Cant blare them as it was the furt reae given since war was declared very silly to grant leave in Kennea Should have weiked till dowal in sydney.
Nov 12 to her 16t Warregs, Parramatta &AE 2 on passge from houmea to sydney. Specdk 11 knoth nothing of importance pappened har 16h Arrived Oin Sydny & docked. Ner 16 to her 27 At Sycey. Shipo companies having the time of their lives Belf perfectly happy with my Belaved Left Sydney at 580a Bllowing Soesh foort the NC Nov 27 Nov 28. On passage from Sydney to Brisbane. Weather rotten Ship rolling very havily. Beartly uncomfortable Nor 29 Arrived Bribane Ogarr. Received curpatches for Friedrich Wilhimshaven (Sate Geoman New Gunnec) 1.30 Pr. Left Brisbane & proceeded towards new Guinea Nor 30 Dec 1s On parsage lowards New Guinea. Doc 2s Arrived Samarac Til in China Strait. 38 New Guine a Commander of Flstilla landed for information about coart of new Gunen from teading schooners Continued voyage up the coart Dec 3d Arived at Friedrich. Wilhimshefon. Ts curtsalian Dec 4 gavison received up with open arms as we had brought their man. Troops having rotten time hall of them down with geved. Bearlly climate Dec 5. & 6 paiding German tradeny stations & plantations up the coart & taking all who had nt or would nt take the oath of neubtality prisoners. Warrego, Parranatte & Yarea employed an same job.
(Sunday). Anchored in Hatchfult Harbour. Left Yarva Dec 6. patrolling month of Kasseri Augusta river. Warrego procuded to Fredwich Wilhimshafen. Hatchfult hasbowd to be destroyer base during apisations in New Guinen Sell went off to Oil vessel outride havbout & piloted Dec 7t her to anchorage. Parsanatta filled with oil & proceded to releive yarra on patrol. Explanation). From information received in Sydney from prisoner. Enemies convn Cormovan is lylng in the Kaiseven Augusta river. Also 600 Germans who left comerica to assist in the defence of Raboul but arrived too late are entrenched on the banks assisted by several hundred armed natives Hence destroyer patrols month of river continually to stop Cormovan from escaping. Waiting for troops & transport before making attach? Rever nangable for 200 miles from month Derwoys bare quite close to month of river. If crubier tries to leave ower we shall have a warm time as she mounts 8 2 guns, several one pounders a machine guns also two torpido tubes. Tn doubt she hnows we are here by this time although we havn't been using our wineless. Native runners very useful to Germans.
Dec 8. In patsol Kaiseven Augusta River Warrego & husa arrived off month of river. All Dec 9. three proceeded up. Murt have got information that Cormsan is not in river. Got up about 40 miles and anchored for the night. Rever about £ mile broard & very deep right up to banks, aparantly no mud banks anywhere. Thich jungle right Idlown to waters edge on Either bank, locoanut palns, tree froms & creepers very thick hundreds of white coanes & cochatoos. Saw one at two niggers watchin us through the gungle. Cant make us out. Have Oto be canful of possened arrous tonight I guess. Thousands of mosquetoes after runset & all hinds of wead noises in Yungle Weinhed at Daylight & proceeded another 20 milis Dec 10 g anchored. Banks cleaver here & country not so thick & rwampy. Four canoes with two neitives in each bied to get part us up river. Fived towascls them with rifle Natives at ance ran canoes into reeds & jumped overboad & disappeared into yungle sent boat to search canoes, Found bundles of spears & a brife made from a human shin bone Also plenty of coconuts. natives didnt return to canses beloe we left. Seem very scared of destroyrs Captain of Parramatter & Conmanco of Warrys

H.M.S.   1949 

Monday 21st.    At anchor in Simpson Haven Hands employed on
several necessary jobs about upper deck 6 P.M.
Weighed in proceeded on patrol no sign of enemy.
 Sep 22nd  

Patrolling all day. Sighted nothing. Stinking hot

5 PM Returned to labour & made port alongside

[Inurese]] (oil vessel) & commenced distillery for her.

40 German prisoners sent aboard [[Inurese]] for

passage to Sydney Ugly looking devils.  [[Inurese]]

leaving tomorrow.
Sep 23rd   

5.0 Destroyers got under way & proceeded to Micho

Harbour (Duke of York's Island) Destroyers landed
amid parties in different parts of harbour.  
Parramatta in luck. Discovered North German
Lloyd steamer Inchlong stowed away up creek
not marked on chart. Boarded her & took
officers & crew prisoners & took charge of all arms
& ammunition. Self in command of [[firige]] crew
took her back to Simpson Haven. Micho very
well hidden ship smothered in brush wood &
palms impossible to see her from anchorage
Boats crew only found her by a fluke
Captain very decent chap quite sorry for him.
Been in hiding a fortnight & hardly and food
left. Unable to get any information about
submarine. Anchored Micho off pier & handed
her over to military. Returned on board
Parramatta. Night patrol as usual.
Thursday 24     Returned to harbour at 7 AM Prisoners from
Micho sent ashore & all stores etc handed over
to military Forty nine I Germans gave themselves
up Had been sent from William Haven to
assist in defence of [[Herbertshake ]] Wrecked on
reef Set fire to steamer & got ashore in boats &

                

 

H.M.S.    1953

Sep 24"    & marched overland arriving too late to defend
[[Herbertshake]]. That accounts for steamer we
found stuck on reef,
5.30 Destroyers weighed & steamed to Northwards
round New Britain in search of Comets.
Sep 25"     [[Wanego]] & Yarra searched Pando Harbour &
Parramatta again searched Powel Harbour.
Unable to find native who volunteered information
about Comet. Searched native village & stole
pig Again spotted the alligator & fired at
him & again missed must bear charmed
life. Returned to Simpson Haven.
Got information that Planet was in hiding in
Rugen Harbour Destroyers sent down to boot
her out (Planet small German cruiser) Arrived
at Rugen Harbour sent captain of Parramatta inside
harbour in motor boat with white flag to call
upon her to surrender. Destroyers remaining outside
all ready with lyddite Planet not there (another
dummy run) sick of dummy runs. Planet had
been inside harbour quite lately no information
as to where she has gone. Returned to harbour
Sep 27, 28. 29 
 &30 

Nothing doing. Why the devil doesnt the Admiral

send us out to look for the enemy. Must think
enemy will dare to attack Simpson Haven. Silly
Ass. All three destroyers patrolling every night
All hands & the cook fed up.
Oct 1st       Australia. Sydney & Encounter & [[?]] left
harbour to look for enemy leaving destroyers
behind to protect the Port. Pow old destroyers.
Hope enemy dodge them & turn up here. No such
luck. Destroyers patrolling all night as usual.
No sign of shipping of any sort.

                   

 

H.M.S. 1957

  Smoke reported on horizon. Parramatta sent out
to investigate. Must be enemies cruisers dodged
our ships. Stand by for some excitement  -
Turned out to be our ships returning Admiral
must have forgotten something. Probably come
back for his washing. Wonder what the next
move will be. Waiting for Jap ships to find
German cruisers & smash them I suppose.
Probably all night as usual.
Oct 3' Sat  Peaceful day at anchor Simpson Haven. Flay &
[[?]] & Sydney sailed for Suva. Fyi. "Garia"
& trooper Berrima left for Sydney.
Encounter Warrejo Parramatta & AE.2 left in
harbour.
Oct 4" Sun 3 PM All ships sailed for Suva including Collins.
Vil & store ships. Nothing left in harbour at all.
Troops occupying town & strongly entrenched.
 Terrible business to get much [[antmen]] into station.
Oct 5" 
 to  
Oct 15"		 Unpassage from Simpson Haven to Fyi Conveying
S S Upolo, Aorangi Caturia & Koolonga.
Average speed 6 knots. Strong S E trade wind
& long S E swell. Eleven days at sea First
uncomfortable time I ever spent. Nothing to eat
except tinned meat & biscuits. A E 2 towed
by Encounter. Warrego & Parramatta scouting
3 miles ahead at night & stationed on bem
of Encounter during the day.
Oct 15"     Arrived Suva thank goodness. Raining like
blazes. Flag [[?]] & Sydney lying peacefully at
anchor. Harbour full of colliers and stone ships etc.
Fine blow out for supper And an all night in.
Dont care if it snows inf. now.
No mail for us on arrival worse luck.
 
Oct 16"
Oct 17" Sat 		 Oiled ship & went alongside North Pier. All peaceful.
Ships Company landed at 6 A M for route march. First
time they had been ashore since leaving Sydney with
the exception of landing parties at Rabaul & [[?]]
Australia, [[?]] Encounter sailed for somewhere
Oct 18" Sun    Got leave for the afternoon. Had lunch at the Pacific
Hotel & went for a long drive. Scenery grand but roads
terrible. Inspected native Fye village . Went inside
two huts. Natives very hospitable. Had some native grog
which nearly made me sick. Returned on board at
 6 P M. First afternoon off for nearly three months.
Oct 19" Got tired of waiting for enemy so went down to Lanthala
Harbour & rigged battle practice target on small
island & sent ships company asking for exercise.
 

Oct 20"

Warrys joined us at 6.20 AM. Spread target soil

and at 9.30 opened fire on target at 1200 yds opening

range 10 rounds for each run. Shooting very good

indeed. Fairly riddled the target & knocked the

Island into bits. Island only about 90 yards long &

2 broad with a few mangroves bushes in the centre.

Mangroves suffered terribly. Ships companies of

Warrys & Parramatta landed on mangled island

& desported themselves in the surf during the afternoon
Oct 21st

AM Went back to Suva PM Tried to enter

Nai Ingals Harbour but Parramatta ran ashore Huge

excitement. Luckily tide was rising & we got off in

half an hour Went back to Suva crestfallen.
Oct 22nd

Again tackled Nai Ingals this time successful. Warrys

& Parramatta moved behind small Island. Very

snug. Can see all Suva harbour without being seen

from outside. Caught a few fish. Went ashore during

evening with a gun I collared from Mittoy. Shot at

a crane but bally gun wouldnt go ff. Came

aboard torn & [[eluding?]]. Jungle awful thick.

      

 

 

Oct 23rd

Warry & Parramatta & AE2 lying in Nai Ingals

Harbour. Working during morning & granting leave in

afternoon for bathing & fishing. Scenery around simply

grand. Weather glorious.
Oct 25 Suva

Sent out on patrol 15 Miles south of Suva. 3PM

sighted vessel steering towards Suva & took her to be

one of our colliers. Vessel passed Suva so thought

she must be collier for German cousins who did not

know our ships were in the harbour. Gave chase

& signalled her to stop engines. No notice taken so

fired a projectile across her bows. Very soon stopped.

She turned out to be SS Atina bound round Fiji

& belonging to Melbourne. No luck returned to Suva

& oiled ship.
Oct 26.27.28

In Nai Ingal Harbour in company with Warrys

Yarra & AE2. Coy peaceful. Made one or two

excursions up small river. Palms & tree ferns 

spiffing. Bathed in river no crocks. Water very clear

could see bottom easily at 15 ft. Boiled our billy on

the bank & made tea. Shot at flying fox but missed

him. Returned to ship before 6PM. Ear seems very

long way off in Nai Ingals. Natives fer friendly.

Plenty of bananas pawpaws granadillos & coconuts.

Weather perfect. Play fruitcake & Encounter away

to one knows where. Suppose they are looking for

Shanhorst & [[?]]
 
Oct 29"

Rigged stage on fxle of Yarra & gave strenuous concert

to elite of Suva. Guests arrived 8.30in motor boats

from Suva. Destroyers lying alongside each other. Yarra

center ship. Guests Yarra reserved for Guests &

Parramatta & Warrys for ships companies. Don't

[[ach?]] the ladies of Suva, didn't see one good

looking one or one who could sing. All look washed

out. Climate I suppose. Concert went off very well.

Supper O.K. Guests left at midnight except mine

who missed boat. Had to camp her out in the ward

room, sent her ashore by the beef boat in the morning

Office slightly bottled after guests left. One fell

overboard in borrowed mess jacket midst roars of

mirth.
Oct 30"

Parramatta & Yarra left Suva Harbour steering 15 ml

South, their tunnel steamed back looking for AE2

who was going to attack us. About a mile off Harbour

AE@ bobbed up about 500yards from us having blown

us sky high. Destroyers & submarine then proceeded to

Michelton Isl & anchored. In afternoon landed

watch & bathed, fished & explored the Island Water

lovely & no sharks.
Oct 31st

Parramatta on patrol. Warrys & Yarra in

Michelton Harbour enjoying themselves.
 
Nov 1st to Nov 8th.

At Suva doing nothing except patrol

Flagships Montcalm & Encounter went to sea

occasionally for two or three days at a  time but

couldnt find anything. Rumours of fight off

Valparais between our Atlantic fleet & Scharnhorst

[[Jur?]] Leipsig Nunsberg & one other. No

particulars. Destroyers & AE2 ahead to Sydney to dock
Nov 8" to 11"

At sea on passage from Suva to Noumea of New

Caledonia.
Nov 11"

Arrived at Noumea & went alongside wharf. Whole

town turned out to meet us. Huge excitement. Ships

companies employed accepting gifts of fruit etc from

French who evidently regarded us as heros. Leave

granted during afternoon in which ships companies

got blind drunk for nothing. Evening choros!!!

French seamen & soldiers drunk but our men worse.

French singing God save the King & our chaps trying to

sing the Marseillaise. Fight between Warrys &

AE2  Parramatta fighting among themselves.
Nov 12"

4.30AM Left Noumea for Sydney. Ships companies

very much the worse for wear. Can't blame them as

it was the first leave given since war was declared.

Very silly to grant leave in Noumea. Should have

waited till arrival in Sydney.
 
Nov 12 to Nov 16"

Warrys, Parramatta & AE2 on passage from Noumea

to Sydney. Speed 11 knots. Nothing of importance happened
Nov 16 Arrived in Sydney & docked.
Nov 16 to Nov 27

At Sydney. Ships companies having the time

of their lives. Self perfectly happy with my Beloved.

 
Nov 27" Left Sydney at 5PM Blowing fresh from the NE
Nov 28" 

On passage from Sydney to Brisbane. Weather rotten

Ship rolling very heavily. Beastly uncomfortable.
Nov 29"

Arrived Brisbane 9 AM Received dispatches for

Friedrich Wilhemshaven (Late German New Guinea)

1.30PM Left Brisbane & proceeded towards New

Guinea.
Nov 30" Dec 1st On passage towards New Guinea.
Dec 2nd

Arrived Samarar Isl in China Strait. S to New Guinea

Commander of Flotilla landed for information about

coast of New Guinea from leading schooners
Dec 3rd Continued voyage up the coast
Dec 4"

Arrived at Friedrich Wilhemshofen. Troops Australian

garrison received up with open arms as we had

bought their mail. Troops having rotten time

half of them down with fever. Beastly climate.
Dec 5" & 6" 

Raiding German trading stations & plantations

up the coast & taking all who hadn't or wouldn't

take the oath of neutrality prisoners. Warry Parramatta

& Yarra employed on same job.
 
Dec 8"  On patrol Kaiseren Augusta River
Dec 9"

Warrys & Nusa arrived off mouth of river. All

three proceeded up. Must have got information that

Cormoran is not in river. Got up about 40 miles

and anchored for the night. River about 1/4 mile

broad & very deep right up to banks, aparantly

no mud banks anywhere. Thick jungle right down

to water edge on either bank, Coconut palms,

tree ferns & creepers very thick hundreds of white

cranes & cockatoos. Saw one or two niggers watching

us through the jungle. Can't make us out. Have to

be careful of poisoned arrows tonight I guess.

Thousands of mosquitoes after sunset & all kinds of

weird noises in jungle.
Dec 10"

Weighed at daylight & proceeded another 20 miles

& anchored. Banks clearer here & country not so

thick & swampy. Four canoes with two natives in

each tried to get past us up river. Fired towards

them with rifle Natives at once ran canoes into

reeds & jumped overboard & disappeared into jungle

Sent boat to search canoes. Found bundles of

spears & a knife made from a human shin bone

Also plenty of coconuts. Natives didn't return to

canoes before we left. Seem very scared of destroyers

Captain of Parramatta & Commander of Warrys wont
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