from the Glenelg was very hilly, and clothed with tall grass. The Flying Foam reached Champion Bay on the return voyage on 13th August.
No settlers immediately went to Camden Harbour or the Glenelg. In March, 1864, the Sea Ripple sailed for Nickol Bay with 650 sheep, five horses, and two cows, the property of Mr. Withnall, who selected a large area of country. Meanwhile, Mr. C. Von Bibra, in September, 1863, took up land near the Gascoyne River, a fact which was deemed of importance to the newly-settled territory, as it would to some extent simplify the difficulty of forming an overland route for travelling stock. By the end of 1863 three runs of 100,000 acres each had been selected in the northern district, while negotiations were in progress for the selection of other large areas at Camden Harbour and Sharks Bay. In January, 1864, it was announced that Mr. Turnbull, a Victorian, had applied for the lease of Dirk Hartog's island in Sharks Bay. Water had been discovered in the island, and there were estimated to be 200,000 acres of good feeding country thereon. In February, 1864, Mr. Maitland Brown landed at Sharks Bay with 165 sheep and two horses. He remained at Freycinet Harbour for some time, and was the first to run sheep in the neighbouring district. Thus two links between settlement and the party at Nickol Bay were formed. A few weeks later overland communication between Champion and Sharks Bays was established. In May the Burges Brothers sailed from Geraldton in the Flying Foam to explore country north of Sharks Bay. They landed at Exmouth Gulf, but their efforts to go inland were abortive, the country was so barren. Re-embarking, the brothers moved to the Gascoyne, and searched for good country there. During an encounter with the natives Captain Cooper was severely wounded in the breast by a spear. He soon recovered. The Government offered inducements to the discoverer of an overland route to Nickol Bay. On 20th July they announced in the Government Gazette that the first person actually driving 100 horses or cattle, or 200 sheep, or a due proportion of each, from any part of the settled districts to the northern country prior to 1st August, 1865, would obtain the use of 100,000 acres of land which he might select free of rent for twelve years.
Satisfactory progress was made by Messrs. Padbury, Wellard, and Withnall, and in August, 1864, the first shipment of wool (seven bales) arrived at Fremantle from the north-west. Colonists were now excited over the potentialities of the northern country. Preparations for settlement were being made in Victoria, where the reports of Mr. F. T. Gregory were eagerly perused. It was known that the north-west was semi-tropical, and therefore that the heat was sometimes intense, but this fact did not daunt the younger men, who, indeed, eventually became the chief portion of the population. The old reports of navigators as to its sterility were no longer believed in, and with the liberal inducements offered by Government it was fulsomely supposed that wealth could be rapidly attained. To some extent the rashness which follows all such excitement was manifested in the north-west, and not a few settlers had reason to regret their precipitancy. The imagination of a convict led to another voyage to Exmouth Gulf and Camden Harbour.
Wildman, the felon in question, made a circumstantial and reasonable report to the authorities that the north-west was rich in gold. With consummate versatility (which was truly meritorious) he told them that when first mate of the Maria Augusta, from Rotterdam to Java, in 1856, his ship lost her rudder on the north-west coast. He anchored near Camden Harbour to effect repairs, and mentioned the names of several land-marks thereabouts. The vessel remained in the bay for twelve days; while inspecting the neighbouring country he picked up in two and a half hours eight nuggets of gold, which, on his return to England, he sold to a bullion merchant in Liverpool for £416. He carefully kept his discovery secret, and would not now tell the authorities the exact locality, except that it was some distance up a river which entered Camden Harbour. It had been his intention to charter a small vessel to return to the place. He now asked that a ship should convey him thither as a prisoner, and magnanimously desired that, when his story was confirmed, he should receive a remission of his sentence of fifteen years' penal servitude recorded in 1861.
The listeners were pleased, and the story was taken from one to another until settlers, newspapers, and Government were excited, and thought it advisable to accede to Wildman's request. The river flowing into Camden Harbour was surely meant for the Glenelg, which disembogued into Doubtful Bay near by. An expedition was equipped, and there were numerous applications for membership. It is said that the Government communicated with the Home Authorities to ascertain if such a quantity of gold had been sold by a seafaring man at Liverpool, and when Wildman's story was confirmed, excitement led to sensation.
The Government voted £150 towards the expenses of the expedition, and commissioned Dr. Martin to act as surveyor and botanist. Surveyor-General Roe, who was acquainted with the country from his voyages with Captain (since Admiral) King gave valuable instructions. Mr. Panter, inspector of police, was given charge of the party, among whom were Messrs. Turner, F. and H. Caporn, Du Boulay, W. Scott, Langoulant, and Stokes, besides Wildman and two natives. The ship New Perseverance, under Captain Owston, was chartered, and on 2nd March, 1864, sailed on the quest. Horses were taken for the inland travelling.
During the voyage up the coast the convict was treated on terms of equality. The vessel was in risk of being wrecked in a willy willy, but by the seamanship of Captain Owston managed to weather the storm. When Camden Harbour was reached the real difficulties of the adventure were experienced. The convict refused to point out the spot, and notwithstanding the cajolery and threats of Mr. Panter, he preserved a stubborn silence. He was disrated from the position of passenger to that of cook. Finally the party proposed to find the gold without the felon's assistance. The horses were landed, and Mr. Panter and his band proceeded inland some twenty miles, but though they searched sedulously, they found no gold, and returned to the vessel. After inspecting the country for pastoral stretches they coasted down to Roebuck Bay, where the horses were again landed, and more exploration work was done. For two days the convict remained on the ship in seeming content. Then at night he attempted to escape, taking with him the two boats. He was caught some days later and placed in irons. The New Perseverance returned to Fremantle in June.
Mr. Panter supplied a favourable report of Roebuck Bay. He travelled fifty-two miles due east from the coast over well-grassed country. There were no running streams, but he averred that water could be obtained anywhere in the flats at depths ranging from six to twenty feet; most of the native wells were only eight feet deep. It would be difficult, he said, to describe finer plains than those in the vicinity of Cape Villaret, containing about 40,000 acres of splendid pasturage. Dr. Martin was even more impressed. His report refers extensively to millions of acres of good land, magnificent harbours and rivers, and luxuriant vegetable and other products. In the Glenelg district pouch-bearing animals were very numerous, and emus, geese,
