The artist took part in A.C. Gregory's expedition to North Australia to record its activities in drawings and watercolours. This oil painting, produced later, shows Aboriginal people in a boat approaching the European vessel during their expedition in the Gulf of Carpentaria, south of Prince of Wales Island, on 28 August 1855. The Aboriginal people, wearing body paint, are portrayed in their canoe which dominates the picture. Four men paddle the canoe towards the stern of the schooner 'Tom Tough', commanded by Captain Gourlay, while the man at the front of the boat holds out his arms in preparation to catch a line being tossed by a sailor. The person in the centre of the craft holds a bow and rope in his right hand. With his left hand he proffers a gift. Behind him on the canoe is a small fire and a seated man playing a didgeridoo, and behind him are two more men also paddling. This canoe is followed by another craft and land can be seen in the far distance to the left. The stern of the 'Tom Tough' is lined with sailors looking at the occupants of the canoe and there is also a woman on board. The barque 'Monarch' can be seen on the horizon to the left of the painting, with several canoes.

The 'Tom Tough' may have been named after the English tune 'Tom Tough' written by Charles Dibdin (1740-1814) who was paid to write a series of songs to 'keep alive the national feelings against the French'. His songs were said to have recruited more men for the Navy than the press-gang.