REMAINS OF A DUGONG. 41 



unrepining, victims to a numerous host of sand-flies 

 and musquitoes. Compared to these pests, savage 

 men or ferocious beasts are really slight evils, since 

 they may be guarded against or overcome, while 

 these plagues render life miserable, and paralyze all 

 one's energies by continual irritation and long want 

 of sleep, without either the dignity or excitement of 

 danger. 



March 15. — We found on the beach this morning 

 the remains of a large dugong, which had been 

 feasted on by the natives, consisting of the skull and 

 part of the vertebra and flippers ; it was too much 

 burnt, however, and broken to make it worth bring- 

 ing away, although the flesh still adhered to it in 

 some places.*' About six o'clock we continued our 

 route along the north shore of the bay, shooting 

 fifteen or sixteen plover out of a large flock as we 

 proceeded. At the mouth of the bay we landed to 

 ascend a green hill, forming its northern point, and 

 saw thence another considerable indentation of 

 the coast about two miles to the northward ; and it 

 being determined we should go and examine it, 

 Melville and I decided to walk across while Captain 

 Blackwood went round in the boat. We found the 



* The upper part of the skull Was thirteen inches long, six 

 inches deep, and eight and a half wide. I subsequently succeeded 

 in getting a fine skull and other parts of the skeleton from Port 

 Essington, where it was procured and prepared by Dr. Sibbald. 

 I sent it to Professor Owen, whose description of it will be found 

 in the appendix. 



