72 Mr. Gellibrand's Memoranda of 



the settlement, we considered it most prudent to keep the 

 bay until Ave reached the river, and after walking about seven 

 miles further, we at length discovered the mouth of the river. 

 My feet had been for the last two days very much blistered, 

 and I felt quite unable to walk any further, and I therefore 

 proposed that half the party should proceed to the settlement 

 and send a boat or a horse to my assistance ; and Mr. Gardi- 

 ner, Mr. Leake, Mr. Malcolm, and Tom proceeded to the 

 settlement. I hobbled along, with the assistance of Mr. Ro- 

 bertson, about three miles, and then waited, -for the horse or 

 boat. In about half an hour a boat, manned with blacks, 

 came down the river. We hailed them, and after ascertaining 

 where we had come from and who we were, they came to our 

 assistance. We found they were going to the Heads to fish, 

 but they immediately proceeded with us to the settlement, 

 and we arrived at the settlement about twelve o' clock. 



The settlement consists of about a dozen huts, built with 

 turf, on the left bank of the river Yarra-Yarra. The river, 

 from the mouth to the settlement, is about eight miles long ; 

 it is salt for about six. For the first two miles it is about 500 

 yards wide, for the next three miles it is about 300 yards, it 

 then becomes gradually narrower, and is about 60 yards 

 wide at the settlement, with deep and precipitous banks, and 

 vessels of sixty tons burthen can with safety proceed to the 

 settlement, close to the shore, and discharge a cargo. As it 

 was of importance that immediate assistance should be ren- 

 dered to Mr. Mudie, I made arrangements with Mr. Batman 

 to despatch, on the next morning, four Sydney natives, who 

 it appears were well acquainted with Western Port, and who 

 upon questioning them, appeared to be quite confident that 

 they would be able to find the sheep and bring them to Port 

 Phillip. 



I felt very much vexed in learning that the natives, with 

 the exception of two, had left the settlement on a hunting 

 expedition, a few days previous, and would not return for 

 some time. 



Feb. 1. — I had this morning a long conversation with 

 Buckley, and explained to him very fully the desire of the 

 association in every respect to meet his views, and to make 

 him superintendent over the native tribes, for the purpose of 

 protecting them from aggressions, and also acting as an in- 

 terpreter in imparting to them not only the habits of civili- 

 zation, but also of communicating religious knowledge. It 

 appears, from his statement, that the tribes are most peace- 



