Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/95

1832.] made deeply sensible of the goodness and mercy of the Lord; before whom we also spent some time in silent waiting, greatly to our comfort.

27th. In a walk, I found the scrub so thick and entangled, that I was under the necessity of cutting my way through it with the back of a saw; but when weary of doing this, I waded past it in the salt-water.—In some places, in this wet country, cyperaceous plants, which somewhat resemble rushes, entwine themselves among the larger shrubs, and ascend to their tops, and lichens hang to a great length from the boughs of some of the trees. The sandbanks at the mouth of Macquarie Harbour are covered with Boobialla, a species of Acacia, the roots of which run far in the sand. Black Cockatoos and some other birds enlivened the bush. Sometimes large White Eagles were seen sitting on boughs overhanging the water, watching for fish.

On the 9th of 7th mo. the Commandant and the Surgeon paid us a visit; they had previously sent us a fresh stock of provisions from the Settlement, those with which we originally set out being nearly consumed; and now, after waiting eighteen days for a fair wind, we crossed the bar without touching; and soon passed the northernmost rocks of Cape Sorell. The following evening we were in sight of South West Cape. We laid-to till daylight on the 11th, and then entered D'Entrecasteaux Channel; where, on passing some whalers, they informed us that we were reported in Hobart Town to be lost. In consequence of adverse winds we were unable to relieve our friends from anxiety on this point till the 13th, when we were favoured again to land in safety and received many greetings.

Our old lodging being engaged, arrangements were made for a temporary residence with Thomas J. and Sarah Crouch, a pious young couple, who received us into their family in Christian good-will, and to whose house we continued to resort, as lodgers, for several years.