35 



saw one. Ryan saw one at Swan Bay in the moonlight. Ridgers 

 the contractor, has also seen them, and I am told Mr. Kenrick 

 Flexmore saw one at the Sandbanks. 



I am. Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 

 John Forster, Esq., JAMES WILSON, 



Hobart. Chief Constable. 



Mr. Morton Allport having informed me that Mr. Charles 

 Headlam had seen such a beast in the lake, proceeded to 

 correspond with that gentleman, from whom I furnish the 

 Society with the following note. I need hardly say the testi- 

 mony of so well known a gentleman as Mr. Charles Headlam 

 is unimpeachable : — 



Egleston, Macquarie River, Tasmania, 



29th April, 1872. 

 Dear Sir, — Yours of the 25th inst. I have, asking for infor- 

 mation in reference to an animal I saw in the Great Lake some 

 years ago. I have looked over my journal, which I have kept for 

 the last 32 years, and find that it was on Monday, 25th January, 

 1863, that I saw the animal. My son Anthony was the only person 

 with me at the time ; the time of day was about 11 o'clock. The 

 lake was very rough, and we were pulling our boat against a strong 

 head sea, when my oar nearly came in contact with a large-looking 

 beast, about the size of a fairly-developed sheep dog. The animal 

 immediately st.irted off at great speed towards an island in the 

 Great Lake known as Helen Island. It appeared to have two 

 small flappers, or wings, which it made good use of, as I should 

 think it went at the rate of 30 miles per hour. We watched it 

 as far as the eye could reach, and it appeared to keep on the face 

 of the water, never appearing to dive. I never remember seeing 

 such an animal before or since. My sons have just returned from 

 the Great Lake, and crossed over the lake twice in the boat, but 

 saw nothing of our strange friend. It was in the middle of the lake 

 where we saw the animal, and in deep water. Should I ever fall in 

 with the beast again T will not fail in securing him if I can, and you 

 shall then see him in person. 



I remain, yours sincerely, 



CHARLES HEADLAM. 

 Morton Allport, Esq. , 

 Hobart Town. 



Having arrived thus far, I was much gratified by seeing 

 in The Mercitry of the 26th of April, 1872, an extract from 

 the Waqgcb Advertiser, which I copy as follows: — 



What is the Bunyip ? (inquires the Wagga Advertiser), There 

 really is a Bunyip, or a Waa-Wee, actually existing not far from 

 us ; and others probably nearer than we imagined. The animal 

 has been seen by many persons whose veracity is unimpeachable, 

 and whose intimate acquaintance with the Fauna of the Murrum- 

 bidgee, coupled with their general intelUgence and observation, 

 puts it altogether beyond doubt that in the Midgeon Lagoon, 



