Page:Historical records of Port Phillip.djvu/34

 they said it after us. There was one who appeared to be their chief. They handed us their spears to look at; one of them was barbed and one with two prongs. They followed us as we went on, and Mr. Grimes seemed much frightened and hailed the boat to follow us; when the boat came up we went on board. I made signs for them to come into the boat, but they would not venture. Two of them appeared to be marked with the smallpox. After dinner we went on shore with an additional guard; they all met us again. Gave them some fish, a tomahawk, and an old hat; they put our hands to their breast, and looked into my haversack. The boat loitered behind us, and the sailors said that they took the lead-line and a hoe out of the boat, and some fish; got the line again but not the hoe. The land is a light sand from the point of the hill, and in some places swampy; the timber something larger, consisting of gum, oak, Banksia, and mimosa, some small pine, one half of it dead by the country being lately burnt. Got on board at dusk.

Saturday, 19th.—Weighed anchor at daylight; came opposite to the place we left last night. Dropped anchor and breakfasted. Got on shore about nine o'clock. The beach muddy; the land a swamp, timber as before. Came opposite to an island. The vessel "brought to," and we went on board about one o'clock. Soon after our arrival on shore two of the natives we had seen on the preceding day came to us. They looked much at my buttons; I cut two off and gave each of them one, and some biscuit. They went with us upwards of a mile and returned. After dinner Mr. Grimes went to take some bearings, and the captain to sound.

Sunday, 20th.—All hands on board till after dinner. The captain went to sound, and arrived at dusk.

Monday, 21st.—Anchor up at daylight; dropped ditto at about seven. The captain, Mr. Grimes, and a party of seamen and marines, went on shore; we were now in sight of the entrance of the port. Mr. Bobbins told me not to go on shore; it began to blow and rain, and they all came on board at two o'clock.

Tuesday, 22nd.—Weighed anchor at sunrise, and came to the opposite shore. Mr. Grimes and assistants went to finish the survey on the south-east point of the entrance; the captain to sound. They returned on board about four p.m.

Wednesday, 23rd.—Weighed anchor about seven o'clock, and came opposite to the watering place. The wooding and watering parties went on shore. I went to examine the run of water; it was dry, except a small pond near the beach. Traced the run about a quarter of a mile; it ends in a lagoon, which was dry.

Thursday, 24th.—All hands wooding, watering, and washing. I sowed a variety of seeds by the watering place; the land is light and sandy. I went towards the bottom of Arthur's Seat, and met with lagoon with fresh water. The captain and Mr. Grimes came on shore in the evening, and all hands got on board at dusk.

Friday, 25th.—About nine o'clock the captain. Grimes, and doctor went to examine a shoal and take some bearings; they came on board