EXCURSION ON THE ISLAND. 55 



In company with Mr. Huxley, I made an excxir- 

 sion of two days' duration, with the double view of 

 seeing" the country and adding- to my collection. 

 We started heavily laden with provisions, water, 

 arms and ammunition, besides boxes, botanical paper 

 and boards, and other collecting g-ear ; and althoug-h 

 taking- it very easily, the fatig-ue of walking- in a 

 sultry day, with the thermometer at 90° in the 

 shade, afforded a sample of what we had afterwards 

 so often to experience during- our rambles in tropical 

 Australia. Towards the northern end of the island 

 we found several creeks and lag-oons of salt and 

 brackish water, occasionally communicating- with 

 the sea, probably under the conjoined influences of 

 spring- tides and a strong- easterly wind. Towards 

 evening-, finding- among- the contents of our g-ame- 

 bags several ducks, of two species — Anas superci- 

 liosa, the " black duck " of the colonists, the richest 

 and best flavoured of aU the Australian water-fowl, 

 and A . punctata, or " teal," we had them cooked 

 " bush fashion," for supper. The night being fine, 

 we enjoyed our bivouac upon the top of a sand-hill, 

 near the sea, by the side of a dead Pandanus, which 

 served as firewood, — although it was judged expe- 

 dient to keep watch by turns, and go the rounds 

 occasionally, especially after the setting of the moon 

 and before da3'break. We saw no recent signs of 

 natives, however, during our absence from the ship j 

 but former experience upon this coast had taught 

 me how necessarj'^ it is to be ever on one's guard, 



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