138 RETURN TO THE SHIP. 



board, with the exception of poor Mr. Usborne, whom 

 we were delighted to see so far recovered. One sen- 

 timent of satisfaction pervaded the whole ship's 

 company, when informed of our success ; and, as I 

 had anticipated, Captain Wickham at once deter- 

 mined upon further exploring our new discovery 

 in lighter boats, first placing the ship as near the 

 mouth of it as practicable. During the squall, on 

 the first night of our absence, the ship parted her 

 cable, and was nearly on the rocks. 



Our sportsmen had been actively and successfully 

 employed during our absence, having shot a great 

 number of quail ; they had seen two emus, and 

 Messrs. Bynoe and Dring had obtained several 

 specimens of rare birds, all of which are now 

 figured by Mr. Gould in his Birds of Australia. 

 A few natives had also been seen, but they were 

 too wary to permit any intercourse with them. 



March 4. — This was Sunday, and no impera- 

 tive necessity hindered our making it a day of rest. 

 Various necessary observations occupied the greater 

 part of Monday ; and, on the day following, the ship 

 was moved, under my guidance, to an anchorage, 

 in 5 fathoms (low water), 2J miles west from Point 

 Torment. 



