Arrival in Sydney. 223 
various fashions, and vin ordinaire, followed by small cups of 
thick black coffee, constituted the usual bill of fare. One day, 
as a great treat, we had grapes—not in great bunches, however, 
as we eat them in Victoria, but a few on a plate, previously ex- 
tracted from a bottle of brandy in which they had been pre- 
served. ‘ 
Nothing worthy of notice occurred until the sailing of the 
steamer for Sydney, unless I except the fact of my meeting a 
historical character in the streets one day. I refer to the son 
of John Adams, of the “Bounty” mutiny celebrity—the go- 
vernor, schoolmaster, and minister of the Pitcairn islanders. 
His son is now an elderly man. He had come across from 
Norfolk island (where the Pitcairn islanders are now living) to 
Noumea, for the purpose of consulting the French doctors re- 
garding some failing in the eyesight of his little daughter, whom 
he brought over with him. 
On the 7th jof March we packed up bag and baggage, and 
went on board the steamer. My baggage now amounted to 
something considerable. In the way of curiosities collected 
amongst the islands, I had native weapons, dresses, bags, 
baskets, cloth, shells, coral, a collection of dried plants and 
‘ferns, two bottled snakes,* a few carved ornaments from 
Noumea, &c._ 
The day after we boarded the steamer she sailed for Sydney, 
the whole of Noumea turning out to say good-bye to friends 
and witness our departure. After a very fair passage of six 
days, we passed the Heads on Thursday, the 13th. 
* One of these snakes was a blue and black banded sea-snake, the Platyurus 
Fischeri, killed by myselfon Tana; whilst the other was a brown viper, which 
Professor McCoy states is unknown to him, and is probably altogether a new 
species. This last I got from Mr. Hebblewhite, who killed it on Efate. Both 
these snakes are poisonous. 
