CHAPTER M. 
From HOBART TO SOUTH Vicroria LAND. 
AFTER a fortnight's stay in Hobart we left for 
Adventure Bay, cheered by thousands of people on 
the main pier of Hobart. Our live stock on board 
was now augmented by some sheep, a pig, and a 
big bullock, the latter being a present from Mr. Gray, 
living at Adventure Bay. 
As we left Adventure Bay on the roth December, 
1898, we saw a shoal of porpoises; there must have 
been over one hundred of them; it was the biggest 
shoal of them I ever saw. Then we let loose the 
two first carrier pigeons (of which we had taken a 
supply on board), with Christmas greetings for Hobart. 
At eight o'clock in the evening the coast of Tasmania 
was just sinking in the mist at the horizon, and we 
steamed towards the south, towards our work, and 
towards our fate. Bright, calm weather prevailed 
during the first days southward. Not before the 
24th December were we able to proceed by sails 
only. The days went pleasantly, each member busy 
in his own department laying his plans for his modus 
operandi. The Zoologist, Mr. Hanson, whenever 
opportunity occurred, secured specimens of the fauna. 
Some few birds followed our track. There were 
two kinds, the short-tailed albatross and the mutton- 
