284 
Excursion to Port Arthur . 
these dogs receiving a regular ration from the Com¬ 
missariat. At night a row of lamps, in the same direction 
as the dogs, is lit up, a measure which precludes the 
possibility of escape. This singular formation is thus 
the secure key of Tasman’s Peninsula ; and what is very 
remarkable, there is a like key (East Bay Neck) to 
Forestier’s Peninsula. The first is a subaltern’s guard ; 
the latter is only now being made a post. These singular 
formations lead one to the almost natural conclusion, 
that Tasman’s and Forestier’s Peninsulas were designed 
for the purpose to which they have been applied. 
The felons know the hopelessness of escape—that the 
least appearance of smoke would betray their whereabouts, 
because its existence would be communicated from every 
signal-hill ; that they could not possibly ford the cordon 
on either isthmus; and therefore that, being without 
food, fire, or water, they had but one of two alternatives— 
a lingering death, or inevitable surrender. Under such 
considerations it must be self-evident, that no place could 
be better chosen than Tasman’s and Forestier’s Penin¬ 
sulas. The former comprises an area of about 45,000 
acres, the latter of 15,000, nearly one half whereof is 
available, and much of it very excellent land ; land that 
the probation parties must, ere long, turn to good account; 
land which, whenever the peninsulas become free settle¬ 
ments, will be the object of earnest competition, inter¬ 
sected, as it will be, by capital roads, and accessible 
on so many points to water-carriage. 
It was on Forestier’s Peninsula that Captain Booth, 
some three years since, had nearly perished. In the anx¬ 
ious desire to make himself personally conversant with 
certain localities, he became entangled in an almost im¬ 
pervious scrub, until at length extrication was beyond 
his power. The hammer of one pistol broke in the 
attempt to strike a light; the other was so saturated 
