Page:Historical records of Port Phillip.djvu/23

 no shelter. Walked till about six o'clock and finding no fresh water came back about a mile to a spring; erected some bushes to protect us; stopped the night. Caught some kangaroo; rain and hail all night. The country barren; the shore high rocks, many of them projecting far into the sea.

Saturday, 18th.—Continued our course on the rocky shore till we came to a spring, and being told by our guide that there was no fresh water for some miles, halted. Mr. Grimes and self went to the top of a high hill where we could see ten miles. The land appeared barren, a scrubby brush, and but little grass; in bottoms are many rushes.

Sunday, 19th.—A wet morning. At noon continued our march, rain and high wind. The beach sandy; came to a salt lagoon opposite New Year's Island. Stopped the night; caught some emus and ducks.

Monday, 20th.—Mr. Grimes and men went back to continue his survey and I went along the salt lagoon till I came to a fresh-water river; traced it about two miles; came to a large lagoon. At the entrance are two small islands; it appears to be three-quarters of a mile long and three or four hundred yards wide; it is covered with bullrushes; a hill on one side, level on the other. Returned through the bush which is about half a mile from the sea. There is some tolerable grass where the brush is thin. Saw some fine trees by the river side but in every place I have seen the large trees are decaying and fresh ones springing up.

Tuesday, 21st.—The weather still wet. Made a signal for the George's boat to come on shore as we had no bread for some days. We moved our camp two miles further to where the boats usually land. Mr. Grimes went on board and procured us some biscuit until our vessel arrived.

Wednesday, 22nd.—The wet continuing sent a party to hunt while the others made the huts more secure. In our journey saw many sea elephants, but few seals. The elephants are in the greatest plenty at the mouths of fresh-water streams. The country round this place is hill and dale, sands and vegetable mould very light. The hunting party returned with three emus, three porcupines, and two kangaroos.

Thursday, 23rd.—Being a fine day went to shew Grimes and McCallum the fresh-water lagoon, and the wind being shifted began to expect our vessel which we did about 3 p.m. Not having seen her for eleven days we began to have serious apprehensions of her safety.

Friday, 24th.—The Cumberland anchored off New Year's Island. In the morning the boat came on shore, I went on board; was informed she had been drifted to Kent's Group and lay there till the wind shifted.

Saturday, 25th.—Went on the islands. Their shore is rocky, covered with seals. I came on shore with a washing party, the captain intending to follow in the morning, to proceed into the interior. On examining the specimens gathered at Kent's Group found them all damaged with wet.

Sunday, 26th.—The captain, and Mr. Grimes, and the doctor came on shore in the morning; remained at marquee all day.

Monday, 27th.—Set out at six o'clock, back the same coast we had been before. Met a hunting party sent out the day before with four