68 Mr. Gellibrand's Memoranda of 



prevent, and knowing also the anxiety I should feel in the 

 uncertainty of their fate, I at length determined that we should 

 all proceed by the first opportunity to Port Phillip. We were 

 all anxious, however, before we quitted the vessel, to conclude 

 some arrangement for the establishment of Mr. Mudie, until 

 we could send him assistance from Port Phillip ; and as the 

 late government station appeared the most eligible for that 

 purpose, on account of its situation and supply of water, we 

 proceeded this morning, in the whale-boat, to that station, 

 and made arrangements which appeared satisfactory to Mr. 

 Mudie, who then determined to remove all his stores, and 

 also the wives of the shepherds out of the vessel, and fix his 

 station there, so that we might direct a party where to find 

 him. On my return to the ship, the party were all busily 

 engaged in making arrangements for the proposed journey, 

 and I was busily employed in making calomel pills, in case 

 any of the party should be taken ill. This day was extremely 

 sultry, and we were waiting some hours in anxious expectation 

 of the sea-breeze, as we were desirous of reaching Sandy 

 Point that night; so that we might start upon our journey by 

 daylight. About five o' clock a slight breeze set in, and we 

 bid farewell to the " Norval," each person taking one bottle 

 of water, and trusting to Providence for such further supplies 

 as we might require in our passage to Sandy Point. Mr. 

 Gardiner shot a swan, and Tom another. We were unable 

 to reach Sandy Point before dark, and about three-quarters 

 of a mile from our landing-place, the boat grounded on a 

 sand-bank with a rapid ebbing tide, and we remained aground, 

 high and dry, all night. At daylight the tide was flowing, 

 and in an hour and a half the vessel was afloat, and about six 

 o'clock we landed and saw many tracks of the natives upon 

 the beach. We made a fire and roasted the swans for break- 

 fast, which proved very acceptable; and after having remu- 

 nerated Mr. Thorn for his trouble, and obtained from him 

 a promise to return to the same spot on the following Sunday, 

 in case we should be unable to accomplish our purpose, Mr. 

 Thorn took his departure in the boat, and we commenced our 

 journey. The party was eight in number ; all carried arms 

 except myself, and all knapsacks, except Tom and myself. 

 Mr. Robertson most kindly carried the greater portion of my 

 provisions, and Mr. Leake the blankets, and the remainder 

 was carried by my shepherd. Mr. Gardiner was chosen 

 conductor, and in case of any appearance of the natives, the 

 gentlemen were all pledged to act under my directions. We 



