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Readings from Primary Sources on Moreton Bay & Brisbane

These "Readings" from Oxley's field books are reprinted from J.G. Steele, The Explorers of the Moreton Bay District 1770-1830, Brisbane, 1972. These field books are in the Archives Office of New South Wales.
Note that Footnotes are per J.G. Steele.
Note that the introductory paragraphs below show heavy quoting from and extensive reliance on J.G. Steele's The Explorers of the Moreton Bay District 1770-1830, Brisbane, 1972. There has also been some quoting from Hector Holthouse's Illustrated History of Queensland.
John Oxley's visit to Moreton Bay in 1823 paved the way for the Moreton Bay Settlement, which he helped to establish at Redcliffe in 1824. Oxley's party entered Moreton Bay on 29 November 1823, anchoring close to Point Skirmish at the entrance of Pumice-Stone River (near where Flinders had anchored 22 years earlier).

The castaways, Pamphlet and Finnegan, were picked up, and on 1 December Oxley and Stirling set out in the whaleboat to explore the Brisbane River.
The following extract from Oxley's field books describes events of the days preceding this excursion.
EXTRACT FROM OXLEY'S FIELD BOOKS
SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 1823
Off the Glass House, at 12. Sun's meridian altitude, 84° 19' 00". North Glass House1 west 25 south, Cape Moreton south 56 east2. A shoal extending 3 or 4 miles from the land, the opposite eastern extreme 1823 south by west distant 24 or 3 miles, distance off shore 3 miles. From noon, sailed five and a-quarter miles south by east half east. Shoal water three fathoms. North Glass House, south 83° west; Cape Moreton, south 64° east. Deepened almost directly to six fathoms and within half a mile shoaled again to three fathoms. These shoals appear to extend right across from shore to shore with alternate channels of deeper water from four to six fathoms. The first shoal breaks at low water about two and three-quarter miles from the west shore. After passing through this shoal water for about one and three- quarter miles, at 3.25 p.m. we deepened our water, having passed these shoals, which form a kind of bar across to the centre or the north portion of the bay. The North Glass House, south 87° west; Point Skirmish, about south 8° east.

We rounded Point Skirmish about 5 o'clock and observed a number of natives running along the beach towards the vessel. The foremost one appeared very much lighter in colour than the rest. We took him for a half-caste, but were to the last degree astonished when he came abreast the vessel (which had just anchored) to hear him hail us in good English. We immediately went on shore and were received by the poor man with a breathless joy, that almost deprived him of utterance.

He said his name was Thomas Pamphlett, that he left Sydney on 21st March in company with three other men, Richard Parsons, John Finigan and another whose name he does not remember,3 being a stranger to him when he sailed. That intending to go to the Five Islands4 for cedar, they were caught by a small gale of wind shortly after quitting the Heads5 and were blown out of sight of land. That some days after, when the gale abated, they made the land again, and thought they had been blown to the southward, near Jervis Bay. That under this impression they kept to the north 21 days without water, having only four gallons when they sailed. The man whose name he does not know died for want of it. Had plenty of provisions but had neither fire nor the means of procuring any. Ran the boat on shore on the outside of a large island (proved to be Moreton Island) where she was dashed to pieces. Walked round the island, fell in with natives who were universally kind to them and assisted them. There they wandered for many weeks round the shore of Moreton Bay (Glass House Bay) in entire ignorance where they were. Went up a river6 which they found to be fresh at some distance from the mouth. Descended in a canoe and found their way to Point Skirmish, receiving occasional assistance from the natives. That three or four months ago,7 still believing themselves to the south of Sydney, they set forward to the north. That himself and Finigan, being footsore, soon returned to Point Skirmish. That Parsons went on; he does not know where he now is, but thinks he is not many days' journey from this place. The natives were certainly kind to him. Finigan went upon a hunting excursion about three or four weeks ago,8 with the Chief of the tribe of Point Skirmish, and is now on the opposite side of the Bay.9 Natives were round us in considerable numbers and seemed most friendly. Pamphlett assured us they would do no harm, and had treated him with great kindness. He afterwards gave many curious and interesting particulars respecting them, &c.

Found plenty of good, fresh water in deep swamps close to the beach, a great treasure to us who had suffered severely from bad water.10
Plenty of the Cupressus australis11 growing to a large size. A native burial place close by. Endeavoured to make clear to the natives, through Bowen (our Sydney native, who understood something of what they said), and Pamphlet, our desire to see the other two white men.
Presented them with knives, etc., with which they seem much pleased. Returned on board taking Pamphlet with us. He had been out fishing and been very successful.

SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 1823
Fresh winds from the southward and eastward. Sent all the water casks on shore, and preparing to examine the western shores of the Bay in the morrow.
I went on shore and examined the margin of the coast round Point Skirmish.12 Found plenty of cypress of large and useful dimensions and a good ornamental species of eucalyptus. The other trees were nearly similar in species to those in the vicinity of Port Macquarie, but were small and stunted. The soil, a poor, loose sand.

Obtained some of the root from the swamps, called by the natives bulwang,13 and used by them as bread. It is a species of fern, with a large tap-root for about two feet, which then, sending forth shoots, runs horizontally to a great distance from the parent stem. (Beaten and roasted, very palatable). About 3 o'clock, we had the satisfaction to see a white man wading into the water from the point opposite,14 and on sending the boat for him, he proved to be John Finigan, whose actions, words and countenance showed how deeply he was overpowered by his sudden and unlooked deliverance.

His account of the wreck of the boat and their subsequent adventures perfectly coincided with the statement we had previously received from Pamphlet, and was somewhat clearer as to dates. His manner throughout was truly diverting, yet was perfectly original in his remarks and detail. His resignation under his sufferings and privations did high credit to the native simplicity of disposition which seemed a marked feature in his character. He spoke highly of his friend the King, and agreed with Pamphlet on praising the kind and humane treatment which they had received from the untutored beings who inhabit these shores. He quitted his companion Parsons three days after Pamphlet, being afraid from his wild language and threats that he would do him some bodily harm, as they were both reduced to the last extremity of hunger, not having seen any of their friendly natives for some days.

Finigan, soon after quitting Parsons, fell in with some who had seen him in Moreton Bay, and they would not suffer him to proceed northerly as was his wish, intimating to him that he would meet with people who would illuse him.
From his account, and the day's15 journey they were to the north of Point Skirmish, it appears that he parted with Parsons on the banks of the south arm of Wide Bay - in a brush near which he saw some cedar trees growing, the water salt.16 On the east coast of Moreton Island they saw a New Zealand canoe of large size, painted red, also a log of cedar with a staple in it. It is a singular circumstance that from the description given of the canoe it was recognised by a seaman on board as One that the Echo, south whaler, had procured in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, when he was there. The canoe being not only remarkable by its colour, but also its size and long, projecting head. The Echo was wrecked about two years ago17 on Wreck Reef.18 Thus it would appear that some judgment may be formed as to the set of currents on this part of the coast. Out at sea, they appear to set strong to the southward, in shore to the north, and this corresponds with my own experience on this point and with that of Captain Flinders.

The men in the boat were deceived by these currents. Leaving Sydney at a period of the year when it is known the southerly currents prevail strongest, they at once conceived they must have been set in that direction, whereas not being in the stream of that current, they were set to the north, and they were only convinced to the contrary by their falling in with us. Finigan, however, declared he thought it very strange that if they were to the south, the weather should prove so extremely hot, and that instead of getting colder, as he afterwards knew it ought to do, as the winter season was advancing, it was rapidly getting warmer every day they sailed to the north, in which direction they imagined Sydney to be. Time, they had nothing to do with. What was it to men so situated? They had long forborne to keep any account. They, however, remembered the day of the month they left Sydney, and up to a period of 101 days. Finigan asked the day of the week and being informed it was Sunday, uttered a shout, and, I am sure' a heartfelt prayer of thanks to his Beneficent Creator for his deliverance.19
1. Probably refers to Beerwah
2. This position was 5 miles east of Caloundra.
3. John Thompson.
4. Illawarra.
5. Sydney Heads.
6. The Brisbane River.
7. Actually about one month ago (Finnegan, Pamphlet, and Parsons, 1823).
8. According to Finnegan, nine days ago (Finnegan, Pamphlet, and Parsons, 1823; Fight Witnessed by Finnegan, November 1823).
9. Redcliffe.
10. Fresh water was scarce at Port Curtis.
11. Bribie Island pine.
12. The whole southern end of Bribie Island.
13. Probably should be "bangwal". See Narrative of Thomas Pamphlet,
14. Toorbul Point, on the mainland.
15. Probably means 'the number of days for which they journeyed to.
16. Actually not as far north as Wide Bay; probably they parted at the mouth of the Noosa River.
17. 21 April 1820.
18. About 220 miles north-east of Sandy Cape. (The ships "Porpoise' and "Cato" had been wrecked there in 1803.) One boatload of survivors from the "Echo" was rescued off Moreton Island, and the canoe may have been brought south by them, and cast adrift when they were rescued.
19. John Oxley was a devout Christian, tending, like many of his time, towards deism.