a Trip to Port Phillip, 65 



management of the sheep on board, the property of Captain 

 Swanston). After making Point Grant, we encountered a 

 severe gale of wind from N.W., and the vessel lay to for 

 three nights and two days, under close reefed topsails. The 

 vessel drifted about 70 or 80 miles to the S.E., and on Sun- 

 day morning (Jan. 24) at daylight the ship was again off 

 Point Grant, and beating up to the westward of Cape Schank, 

 and distant about 20 miles. 



In consequence of the improper manner in which the vessel 

 was fitted up for the stock, about 115 sheep perished by in- 

 juries and suffocation during the gale and the day afterwards. 

 The greater portion of the hay had been destroyed, in conse- 

 quence of there not being any proper racks, and on Saturday, 

 the 23rd, the passengers were under the necessity of assisting 

 Mr. Mudie in feeding the sheep with flour and water. The 

 captain stated that he should not be able to make Port Phillip 

 without two or three tacks ; and even if he succeeded in get- 

 ting into Port Phillip that evening, it would most probably 

 take him two days to reach the settlement. He also stated 

 that the ship was under demurrage, at .€10 per day, and 

 would be so until she came to anchor at Western Port, where 

 she was engaged to take in a cargo of bark for the owner. 

 Under these circumstances, and feeling coi"ndnced that if a 

 change of wind took place, and the vessel was again driven 

 from the land, the sheep must perish, and there not being 

 any means of even keeping them alive for three days, and 

 believing that the sheep could be landed at Sandy Point that 

 day, the passengers were unanimously of opinion that it 

 would be for the interest of the charterers to proceed at once 

 to Western Port, land the stock, and drive the sheep across 

 to the settlement at Port Phillip. The captain then, at the re- 

 quest of Mr. Mudie, made Western Port, and about twelve 

 o' clock the vessel came to anchor near Sandy Point. About 

 one, the captain, Mr. Mudie, Mr. Eobertson, Mr. Gardiner, 

 Mr. Leake, and my son proceeded to the shore, for the pur- 

 pose of selecting a proper place to land the sheep. I remained 

 on board for the purpose of getting the long boat out, and 

 the sheep ready for disembarkation. In about three hours 

 the boat returned, and the parties stated that it was impossi- 

 ble to land sheep, as there was nothing but heath and scrub, 

 and no appearance of water. A person of the name of Thorn 

 was on board the vessel, for the purpose of acting as pilot at 

 Western Port, and superintending the shipment of the bark, 

 who was well acquainted with Western Port. He repre- 



