74 A DISASTROUS EXPEDITION*. 



them ; and he was equally successful with the 

 savages of New Holland and Van Diemen's Land. 



On leaving Timor, the expedition sailed for the 

 Bass Straits and the south coast of New Holland. 

 Here they suffered extremely ; and when they 

 reached Port Jackson, their condition, from priva- 

 tion and disease, was such that only four of the 

 crew could perform duty ; so that, had they been 

 detained a few days longer at sea, they must all 

 have perished. 



After a sufficient period of rest at Port Jackson, 

 a second voyage, no less hazardous than the first, 

 was undertaken. The Geographe proceeded to 

 examine the islands of Bass Straits, and to explore 

 the coast of New Holland. During this expedition, 

 Peron especially displayed remarkable courage and 

 activity. Of the five zoologists who had been 

 appointed by Government, two having remained 

 at the Isle of France and two having died in the 

 course of the second voyage, on him alone devolved 

 the performance of the duty ; and he proved himself 

 equal to all, regardless of the privations to which 

 he was exposed. Shortly after their departure 

 from Timor, the captain having refused the spirits 

 which were necessary for the preservation of the 

 mollusca that were collected, he appropriated the 

 whole of his personal allowance to this purpose, 

 and, what was still more remarkable, he communi- 



