EXCURSION ON THE ISLAND. 65 



In company with Mr. Huxley^ I made an excur- 

 sion of two days' duration^ with the double view of 

 seeing- the country and adding* to my collection. 

 We started heavily laden w^ith provisions^ water^ 

 arms and ammunition^ besides boxes, botanical paper 

 and boards, and other collecting* g*ear ; and althoug'h 

 taking* it very easily, the fatig-ue of walking* in a 

 sultry day, with the thermometer at 90"" in the 

 shade^ afforded a sample of what Ave had afterwards 

 so often to experience during* our rambles in tropical 

 Australia. Towards the northern end of the island 

 we found several creeks and lag-oons of salt and 

 brackish water, occasionally communicating* with 

 the sea^ probably under the conjoined influences of 

 spring* tides and a strong* easterly wind. Towards 

 evening*, finding* among* the contents of our g*ame- 

 bag*s several ducks, of two species — Anas super ci- 

 liosa, the '^ black duck ^' of the colonists^ the richest 

 and best flavoured of all the Australian water-fowl, 

 and A . punctata, or " teal/' we had them cooked 

 '' bush fashion," for supper. The nig*ht being* fine, 

 we enjoyed our bivouac upon the top of a sand-hill, 

 near the sea, by the side of a dead Pandanus, which 

 served as firewood, — althoug*h it was judg*ed expe- 

 dient to keep watch by turns, and g*o the rounds 

 occasionally, especially after the setting* of the moon 

 and before daybreak. We saw no recent sig*ns of 

 natives, however, during* our absence from the ship ; 

 but former experience upon this coast had taug'ht 

 me how necessary it is to be ever on one's g*uard, 



