a Trip to Port Phillip. 73 



ably disposed, that they fully understand the nature of the 

 grants issued by them, and that they are looking forward to 

 the time when the blankets, tomahawks, and flour will be 

 distributed. 



Buckley appears to be of a nervous and irritable disposition, 

 and that a little thing will annoy him much ; but this may 

 arise from the peculiar situation in which he has been placed 

 for so many years. I am quite satisfied that he can only be 

 acted upon by kindness and conciliation, and that by those 

 means he will be an instrument, in the hands of Providence, 

 in working a great moral change upon the aborigines. He is 

 not at all desirous of occupying any land or having sheep, 

 but is highly pleased at the idea of being appointed superin- 

 tendent of the natives, with a fixed stipend, so that, to use 

 his own expression, "he may know what he has to depend upon, 

 and be enabled to make a few presents to his native friends." 

 I told him that I intended, on the following day, to proceed 

 to Geelong, and inquired whether he would like to visit his 

 own country. He seemed much pleased at the idea, but 

 stated lie did not think he could walk so far. I then proposed 

 he should ride, which seemed to gratify him very much, and, 

 in consequence, I engaged a large cart-horse of Mr. Fawk- 

 ner's for that purpose. 



My feet were so bad I could not walk, and as I was desirous 

 of seeing No, 12, I had my horse taken to the fording place 

 and round to the salt-water creek, and about ten o' clock Mr. 

 Gardiner, Mr. Robertson, Dr. Cotter, myself, and Linfield 

 went in the whale-boat to the creek. I took Linfield with me 

 for the purpose of making him acquainted with that section, 

 as I intended to stock it. After passing over about six miles 

 of the section, we came upon a large salt water river, which 

 Dr. Cotter was of opinion communicated with a chain of fresh 

 water ponds, which he had recently crossed on that section. 

 Dr. Cotter and myself therefore proceeded to trace up the 

 river, and I requested the remainder of the party to trace it 

 down to the sea. Dr. Cotter and myself then traced the 

 river up to the chain of ponds, and I was quite satisfied there 

 was plenty of water on the grant. We then made across to 

 the point at which the ships lay, and the stock was landed, 

 and we found all the party with the exception of Linfield, 

 who it appeared had stayed behind. Yv r e waited for him about 

 three quarters of an hour, and as it was six in the evening, 

 the gentlemen were anxious to return, and I therefore desired 

 the man to take the horse round the point, find Linfield, and 



