22 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



surrounding the South Channel, for although he remained in the 

 bay until the 12th of March, he failed to get the Lady Nelson into 

 the broad expanse that marks the centre of this fine inland sea. 



He got into trouble with the natives, and one of his boat parties 

 only escaped being cut off by resorting to the free use of their fire- 

 arms, with a result that was probably fatal to two or three of the 

 aborigines. He made some exploratory excursions in the launch, 

 visiting Swan Bay, amongst other places, but it is difficult to realise 

 the exact extent of his discoveries, for his journal is absolutely 

 devoid of any descriptive power, and he refers to names of head- 

 lands and bays that have not been perpetuated in our modern 

 geography. The entry in his journal for the 9th of March gives his 

 own version of the reasons for not prosecuting his discovery : " We 

 have now expended nineteen weeks and one day's provisions out of 

 the twenty-four weeks we were victualled for, commencing on 27th 

 October, 1801, and owing to the quantity of bread decayed, along 

 with what the swans and other birds have ate, we are rather 

 short, even what we have left is very bad ; therefore it will not be 

 in my power at this time to prosecute the object of our cruize much 

 further ; it is in vain that I regret so little having been done in 

 such a length of time ; the weather and other circumstances have 

 been rather against the whole cruize ; however, the little that is 

 performed of the original orders is pretty accurate, and I trust will 

 give the Commander in Chief some satisfaction." This easy-going 

 concession to difficulties shows Murray to have been a man of very 

 different stamina to the determined and resourceful young Surgeon 

 Bass. 



The one important official event of his visit was performed at 

 eight o'clock in the morning of the 9th of March when, in the words 

 of his journal, "the United Colours of the Kingdom of Great 

 Britain and Ireland were hoisted on board and on Port Patterson, 

 and at one o'clock under a discharge of three vollies of small arms 

 and artillery the Port was taken possession of in the name of His 

 Sacred Majesty George the Third of Great Britain and Ireland, 

 King," etc., etc., etc. 



Three days later he ran out through the Heads, and after 

 encountering again in Bass Strait most tempestuous weather, 



