THE FIRST YEAR OF THE SETTLEMENT 141 



The shepherds were unable to prevent them straying, but to- 

 wards nightfall the whole party turned out to gather them in, and 

 succeeded in camping about 800 on a neck of land where they 

 could be confined. But during the night, while the shepherds 

 comfortably slept, the sheep broke bounds, and in the morning there 

 were none to be found. A long and fatiguing search, involving some 

 fifteen miles of tramping under a scorching sun, resulted fruitlessly, 

 but late in the evening the captain and young Gellibrand came 

 upon the carcasses of 280 which had perished miserably in the 

 muddy waters of a salt-water creek. The whole party were ill from 

 exhaustion, and Mudie, who was in responsible charge of the stock, 

 succumbed to a violent fit of hysterics. After fully considering 

 their position, it was decided to leave Mr. Mudie and his shepherds 

 at the site of the old settlement of 1827, with a supply of stores, 

 that he might endeavour to recover the remainder of the sheep, 

 while the others should proceed overland to the settlement and 

 send a vessel round to bring them to the Yarra when mustered. 

 The party were eight in number, armed, and loaded with such 

 provisions as they could carry and one bottle of water each. The 

 weather was intensely hot, and it took them three days to reach 

 the Yarra, having suffered much from thirst, and on more than 

 one occasion some of the party had lain down with an intimation 

 that they could go no farther. However, on the 31st of January, 

 following the shore of the bay, they came in sight of the mouth 

 of the Yarra, and here Gellibrand, being unable to walk any 

 longer, sent off the strongest of the party to the settlement and 

 waited on the banks of the river for relief. A boat, rowed by black- 

 fellows on the way down to the bay to fish, passed them, and, on 

 being hailed, took them on board and up to the embyro township. 

 Not much of a place to look at as yet, but still a grateful haven of 

 rest to the footsore and famished travellers. " About a dozen huts 

 built with turf on the left bank of the Yarra " is Gellibrand's laconic 

 description. But he underrated its importance, for two of the houses 

 were of weather-board, one occupied by Dr. Cotter, near the 

 site of St. James's Church, the other the general store and grog 

 shop of the settlement, where John Fawkner ministered to the 

 people's wants. For the housing of the rest " wattle and daub " 



