NARRATIVE OF ME. CARRON. 105 



intersected by patches of open ground, and a few 

 peaked hills. The swamps extend about forty-five 

 miles, to about 145° 20' east longitude. It seemed 

 that a great deal of rain had fallen over this 

 country, and it rained at intervals all the time we 

 were in the vicinity of Rockingham Bay — from the 

 21st of May to the middle of August. It was Mr. 

 Kennedy's opinion that the rainy season occurred 

 very late this year. The whole peninsula seemed to 

 fall from the east towards the west. 



Aug. 4:th. — Mitchell, Dunn, and myself, took the 

 horses and sheep to grass and water, and having- 

 hobbled the former, we made ourselves a small hut 

 with saplings, and covered it with a small tarpaulin. 

 We divided the night watch into three parts, being 

 four hours each. 



Aug. 5th. — We mustered the horses morning- 

 and e^'ening, and drove the sheep close to the fire, 

 having one of our kangaroo dogs chained up beside 

 them, and the other one with the sheep dog loose. 

 We were apprehensive that the natives might attack 

 us. 



Aug. Gth. — Shortly after we had mustered the 

 cattle this morning, seven or eight natives appeared 

 at the edge of the scrub, in the direction from which 

 we had come. Just as they approached, an Aus- 

 tralian magpie perched upon a tree, and I shot it to 

 shew the effect of our tire-arms. On hearing the 

 report of the gun they all ran into the scrub, and 

 we saw them no more. On all occasions it was Mr. 



