AUSTRALIA'S FIRST ENGLISHMAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 26

AUSTRALIA'S FIRST ENGLISHMAN

To William Dampier, R.N., belongs the distinction of being the first Brit-ish-subject to land in Australia, says the Adelaide "Chronicle." He was born in Somerset in 1652, and'led a life of amazing adventures In all parts of-the then-known world. He served in the British Navy against, the Dutch, became a planter 'in Jamaica, a log cutter at the Bay of. Campeachy, a pirate, and as a member of the crew of a French privateer visited Virginia and Panama. At the age of 36 he embarked on the privateer Cygnet, which sailed first to China, and then to New Holland, as Australia was then called.

The Cgynet entered Cygnet Bay, Western Australia on January 5, 1688, and remained there until March 12, refitting. Dampier employed his time by making many excursions inland,'and he kept accurate records of all his experiences with natives, animals, birds, and reptiles. He also kept a detailed account of the climatic conditions and the soil.

On the return voyage he deserted from the ship at the Nicober Islands, and had a perilous trip in a native canoe to Sumatra. He journeyed back to England via Tonquin and Actreen, and reached London after an absence of eight years. He published his book, "A New. Voyage Round the World," in 1697. This was the, first authentic account of the unknown New Holland, and was read with interest by the King and members of the Government. As a result it was decided to establish a base on the coast of the new land to act as a check to the Dutcl? Indies.

Dampier was promoted to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy, given command of H.M.S. Roebuck (290 tons), a very old ship with 12 guns and a crew of. 50 men, and told to look for-a site for the settlement. His

crew proved- unruly, and resisted his attempt to sail to the eastern coast of New Holland,- so he again visited the coast of Western Australia. -

On August 7, 1699, the' Roebuck s.a^led into Shark's Bay (so called by Dampier because the water teemed with them), and explorations began. For over a week he searched unsuccessfully for fresh water to refill his tanks, and then, the crew becoming restless and refusing to sail further south, he turned the ship northward along the coast. They sailed for over 1000 miles, landing and. searching for fresh water many times, but failing to -find it. . ■

Dampier dies not find any place suitable for a settlement, so sailed away again on .December 5, 1699. It was his misfortune on both voyages to strike the most barren and inhospitable portion of the Australian coastline.

On the homeward journey his ship began to leak badly, and he was forced to put in to the Island of Ascension. The ship sank at her moorings, and although the crew-were all, saved, Dampier lost many of his books, papers and specimens. ,He reached England in another' ship, and gave a very gloomy account of the country he had visited, so that neither England nor any other country thought it worth while to claim or colonise Australia. The. accounts he gave were perfectly accurate as applied to the portion of coastline he explored, and they served to make the Dutch, French, and . Spaniards believe that ■ the country was not .worth taking. .

Many years later a very different value was put on-Australia, as. a result of Cook's voyage up the eastern coastline, and England was then ■ able to take undisputed possession of the country.