160 UNABLE TO PROCURE SUPPLIES. 
was that some small coasting vessel might arrive in 
the course of a few days, or if not, I might try to 
hire a whale boat from one of the whaling vessels, 
and send her on to Adelaide. Dr. Harvey had a 
small open boat of four or five tons, but he did not 
seem willing to let her go ; and unless I could com- 
municate with Adelaide, flour was the only article 
I could procure, and that not from the stores in the 
town, but from a small stock belonging to the 
Government, which had been sent over to meet any 
emergency that might arise in so isolated a place. 
This was placed under the charge of Dr. Harvey, 
who, on behalf of the Government, kindly offered to 
let me have what I required, on condition that I 
would replace the same quantity, by the first oppor- 
tunity. 
Having made arrangements for a supply of fresh 
meat and a few vegetables during my stay, I walked 
out to examine the settlement. 1 found many neat 
cottages and other improvements since I had been 
here in 1839 ; and there were also a few gardens 
commenced, some of which were in a state of culti- 
vation and appeared to be doing well. The popula- 
tion, however, had decreased, and many of the 
cottages were now unoccupied. Those who remained 
were principally persons who had lost everything, 
and who could not well get away, or who, on the 
other hand, had invested their property in the place, 
and could not leave it except at the sacrifice of almost 
everything they possessed. No one seemed to be 
