Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/161

1833.] to visit it. The water of what proved to be the union of our lost river with another, rushed down a rugged, basaltic channel, falling at intervals for about 300 yards; the whole elevation being about 100.—We had had some wine with us, and had taken it mixed with water; but it was exhausted some time before reaching this spot; and I was greatly surprised, on eating a morsel of food and drinking a draught of unadulterated water, to find my strength restored, in such a degree as to enable me, with comparative ease, to ascend a hill covered with forest, so thick as to resemble hop-poles, which often required to be pushed aside, to make a passage. After sunset, we discovered some Black-wood trees, and soon a few blades of grass; these were cheering as indications of the margin of the forest; and shortly after, to our great satisfaction, we emerged upon Three-brook Plain. The Myrtle forest was excessively dark, and the road through it so miry, that we had to use sticks to support ourselves, while feeling with our feet for roots to step upon; but patience and perseverance brought us safely to the Hampshire Hills by bed time. Some dogs that accompanied us, killed a Kangaroo and a Wombat, both of which supplied us with food. The latter is sometimes met with in the deepest recesses of the forest.

20th. We assembled for religious purposes, with the Officers and Prisoner-servants of the establishment. G. W. Walker read the Epistle to the Colossians, and I made a few remarks on the efficacy of Divine grace, and of faith in the Son of God, as shown in the conversion of Onesimus, whom the Apostle commends to the Colossian church, and in another epistle, also to Philemon, his master, from whom he had run away. I pressed upon the audience the necessity of seeking to know the same transforming power to operate in themselves, and to bring them from under the dominion of Satan, and into communion with God.—Few of the free servants have chosen to be present on such occasions: several of them were at work this afternoon, contrary to orders. Many of them are very reckless, and have little command over themselves. One of them, a short time since, set out with the overseer of the establishment, for