Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/76

40 back from the top of this hill, was perforated by a land-lobster, the size of a prawn; its holes were carried up with conical towers of earth about a foot high. This animal seems common in this wet part of Van Diemens Land.

One of my objects in this excursion was to endeavour to ascertain, if there existed beyond Bathurst Harbour—the sheet of water east of where the Tamar was lying—a lake doubtfully laid down on some maps; but this object was frustrated, by the coming on of a fog and heavy rain, just as I had reached a remote peak, from which I had hoped to see the desired spot. Previously, however, I had noticed the sea breaking on the south coast, at a much shorter distance, than I had expected from the map.—The top of the peak was composed of large blocks of white quartz, with thick scrub between them. From one to another of these I skipped to the opposite side of the peak; and from thence descending, passed through a thick scrub as high as my shoulders, hoping to reach the vessel by a nearer cut; but I had not proceeded far, before a deep woody ravine obstructed my course: and now was put to proof, the advantage of having my mind stayed on the Lord; the feeling of whose good presence had been with me in my solitary wandering, and in my musing upon the novel scenes presented by his creation in this part of the world; for had I become agitated I should probably have been lost. Evening was drawing on, I was alone and several miles from my companions; the scrub through which I had come had closed as I had left it, and it was necessary to retrace my steps. Fixing my heart more steadfastly on the Lord, in prayer, and taking the bearing of a prominent rock by a compass, which in all my wanderings I carried in a pocket opposite to that occupied by my watch, I patiently parted the opposing scrub with my hands, now somewhat weakened by fatigue; and after some time, again reached the rocky peak, which I mounted under such a sense of my Heavenly Father's love, as I hope not soon to forget, and which comforted and invigorated me, and constrained me, on bended knees, to give him thanks.

The fog parted a few times, and opened a fine view of the northern harbour of Port Davey, the Davey River, Mount de