Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/122

86 laurel, in size and general aspect, and is common along the coasts of V. D. Land, where it bears the name of Mangrove, which, in Australia, is given very promiscuously to shrubs and trees growing within the reach of salt-water. On the ebb of the tide, we crossed the creek, and proceeded till near dark. The dogs killed a Bandicoot. This animal like most other quadrupeds in this part of the world, carries its young in a pouch. The Bandicoot of V. D. Land, feeds chiefly on ants, but it gets the blame of much of the mischief done in gardens by the Kangaroo Rat. After passing over a remarkable, sloping point of granite, by following a projecting vein of quartz, that afforded hold for our feet, and collecting some limpets from the adjoining rocks, where four fine Pelicans passed over our heads, we turned into a well sheltered place, by a small streamlet, to remain for the night. A fire was quickly kindled, and the tea-kettle, which one of women brought suspended round her neck by a string, was set upon it. The Bandicoot and limpets were cooked, the latter being pitched by the natives, with great dexterity, into the glowing embers, with the points of the shells downward: their contents, when cooked enough, were taken out by means of a pointed stick. These, with provisions from the settlement, formed an ample meal, after which we laid down by the fire, in blankets, &c, brought by one of the men, and rested till morning.

13th. On the way to the place of our destination, the dogs killed a Wallaby, about the size of a lamb of three months old. Here we found two huts built of wattles and lined with grass, by an industrious soldier, who had also brought a plot of ground into cultivation. The site appeared much preferable for a settlement to the Lagoons, being a promontory with a considerable quantity of grassland, sheltered by thick scrub toward the sea, and having access to the mountains behind; nevertheless fresh water was not so plentiful as was desirable, but sufficient for necessary purposes. Having surveyed the place, we returned to the Lagoons, with the addition to our company of a man carrying two young Cape Barren Geese, one of which died on the way, from the effect of cold and rain.