which,
until lately, consisted of about twenty wooden buildings on the bank of
a creek ; but the recent discovery of the Kimberley gold fields has led
to its rapid development. Cossack, otherwise known as Tien Sin, and
Port Walcot, is situated in 210 41' S. lat., and 1170
08' E. long. It is the port for Roebourne, eight miles inland, and the
capital of the North-west, .with which it is now connected by a tram
line.
The
immediate surroundings of both Cossack and Roebourne were, until this
year, most dismal. With the exception of a few scanty, hurricane-torn
mangroves in the creek, neither tree nor blade of grass is to been
seen. There are, however, a number of thriving sheep stations not many
miles distant.
The
coast is regularly visited by severe hurÂricanes — revolving storms,
known elsewhere as cyclones or typhoons. In March, 1882, both Cossack
and Roebourne were literally levelled to the ground in the course of a
few hours. The hurricane months are from December to March inclusive,
and every year several Pearling craft are damaged, if not totally lost.
The rise and fall of tide varies on this coast from 18 to 40 feet.
Cossack Creek, which is almost dry at low
