430 BENEFICIAL TENDENCY OF RECREATION. 



of a glass of grog to any who should bring home 

 something for supper. This infused some activity 

 into them; and after an absence of a few hours, 

 they returned cheerful and ruddy with exercise, 

 bringing with them three fine hares and a brace 

 of ducks, different from any that had hitherto 

 been seen. In colour, these last resembled the 

 bustard of the country, with black neck and 

 bill, the latter short and more curved than in 

 the other kinds ; sepia brown plumage about 

 the back and wings, with a mixture of black- 

 grey, the breast a dull white, and the legs black. 

 They had not the least fishy flavour, and, plain 

 boiled, made us an excellent meal. 



The N.W. gale gradually abated in the night, 

 and on the 19th we proceeded towards the river, 

 aided by a breeze from the east; and as it in- 

 creased, I beheld with a satisfaction almost pain- 

 ful the admirable qualities of the boat, which, 

 had there been a clear passage, would have taken 

 us in the same gallant style to Point Turnagain. 

 The wind freshened into a gale, and made us 

 seek shelter and safety under the lee of Victoria 

 Headland. Here the rain fell in torrents ; and 

 notwithstanding the additional covering of the 

 mainsail over the tent, it was impossible to keep 

 it out. The storm, in fact, partook more of the 

 character of a hurricane than a common gale, 



