a Trip to Port Phillip. 67 



Mr. Leake, and Mr. Gardiner went ashore and found the 

 shepherds near the point, and that the sheep had strayed 

 away. They went in search of them, and brought back to the 

 Point about 800, which they placed in charge of the three 

 shepherds who were then on shore. 



Tuesday, Jan. 26. — Mr. Robertson and the other gentle- 

 men went on shore at daylight, and found that the shepherds, 

 instead of being stationed back in the bush, so as to keep the 

 sheep on the neck, had in fact wholly neglected their duty, 

 and had slept at the extreme point on the beach close to the 

 vessel ; and on searching for the sheep, only two or three, 

 which were in a dying state, could be found. The gentlemen 

 then proceeded in search of the sheep, and returned about 

 eleven o'clock to the ship to breakfast, having walked about 

 15 miles in a fruitless search after the sheep. Mr. Robertson 

 having found, from Mr. Thorn, that there was a fine river, 

 about nine miles from the Point, was extremely anxious to 

 proceed, in search of the sheep, as far as the river, under the 

 expectation of finding them, and Mr. Thorn promised to 

 meet him in the evening, with the long boat, near the mouth 

 of the river. Mr. Robertson, Mr. Leake, and Mr. Mudie 

 again left the vessel about twelve o'clock, to proceed as far as 

 the river. The captain and my son left the vessel about the 

 same time, and proceeded along the beach on the other side 

 of the Point, and as far as the late settlement. The captain 

 and Tom found the tracks of sheep along the beach, and about 

 two miles from the landing place, a muddy, salt water creek, 

 and the carcases of about two hundred and eighty sheep in 

 and near the creek. Mr. Robertson and the others reached 

 the vessel about eleven o'clock at night ; they had been un- 

 successful in their search — they were worn out with fatigue 

 and anxiety. Mr. Mudie went into violent hysterics. Mr. 

 Robertson and Mr. Leake were both taken exceedingly ill, 

 and, in fact, nature appeared quite exhausted. 



Wednesday , Jan. 27. — We this morning took into consi- 

 deration our own situation, and what course should be pur- 

 sued. Having suffered from the heat on Monday, I did not 

 think it proper to expose myself to the dangers of a journey 

 overland, and I intimated my intention of staying on board 

 until a better opportunity of proceeding, either backwards or 

 forwards, presented itself; but finding that one or two of the 

 gentlemen would follow my example, and that the others 

 would proceed overland to Port Phillip, and thinking that 

 three or four might be exposed to dangers which eight might 



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