26 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



neighbourhood, and proceeded up the Yarra as far as its junction 

 with the Merri Creek, now known as Dight's Falls, over which 

 obstacle they were unable to lift their boat. Returning to the 

 mouth of the Yarra, they skirted the western shores of the bay 

 from the site of the present Williamstown, crossing the Werribee 

 and Little Eivers, until they reached Cowie's Creek, near the head 

 of Corio Bay. After a short run on board their vessel, they re- 

 sumed the land survey along the south shore of Corio Bay, rounded 

 the Indented Head, skirted Swan Bay, and reached the point now 

 graced by the picturesque village of Queenscliffe. The Cumberland 

 then ran over to the shelter of Capel Sound to take in water and 

 prepare for the return voyage, sailing for Sydney on the evening of 

 the 26th of February. 



The result of the exploration was not altogether satisfactory. 

 It would appear to have been a summer of intense heat, and in 

 addition to the parched appearance of the country from natural 

 causes, there had been recent and very extensive bush fires. The 

 surveyors were moreover frequently put to great inconvenience by 

 the difficulty of finding good drinking water. Their examination, 

 except in the immediate neighbourhood of the present metropolis, 

 did not extend to any distance inland, and consequently embraced 

 a disproportionate area of sandy beach and scrubby ridges, which 

 was undoubtedly somewhat misleading, and coloured their report 

 unfavourably. They were unanimous, however, in the conclusion 

 that the best place for a settlement was on the Yarra, where, from 

 the summit of the since levelled Batman's Hill, they had seen the 

 possibilities of an Arcadian village, without dreaming that the 

 whole area within their view was destined to be covered with only 

 a part of the busy streets of the greatest city south of the line. 



During the course of this survey Mr. Grimes and his assistants 

 frequently encountered considerable parties of aborigines, and it is 

 gratifying to learn from the journal that in no case did they come 

 into hostile collision. A few trifling presents and a little firmness 

 seemed always sufficient to ensure the maintenance of amicable 

 relations, though the leader on more than one occasion seems to 

 have shown some trepidation at their presence. 



