Page:The new British province of South Australia.djvu/70

 SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 51

what the statement of Captain Sutherland would lead one to anticipate.

"Next morning, however, going towards the shore, a number of dark brown kangaroos were seen feeding upon a grass plat by the side of the wood, and our landing gave them no disturbance*. I had with me a double-barrelled gun fitted with a bayonet, and the gentlemen my companions had muskets. It would be difficult to guess how many kangaroos were seen; but I killed ten, and the rest of my party made up the number to thirty-one taken on board in the course of the day; the least of them weighing sixty nine, and the largest one hundred and twenty-five pounds. These kangaroos had much resemblance to the large species found in the forest lands of New South Wales; except that their colour is darker, and they were not wholly destitute of fat.

"After this butchery, for the poor animals suffered themselves to be shot in the eyes with small shot, and in some cases to be knocked on the head with sticks, I scrambled with difficulty through the brush-wood and over fallen trees, to reach the higher land with the surveying instruments; but the thickness and height of the wood prevented any thing else being distinguished. There was little doubt, however, that this extensive piece of land was separated from the continent; for the extraordinary tameness of the kangaroos and the presence of the seals upon the shore, concurred with the absence of all traces of men to show that it was not inhabited.

"The whole ship's company was employed this afternoon in skinning and cleaning the kangaroos, and a delightful regale they afforded, after four months' privation from almost any fresh provisions." "In gratitude for so seasonable a supply, I named this southern land Kangaroo Island."


 * This was before the runaway sailors and convicts had settled there.

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