A Collecting Trip on the Abary. 369 
otters in abundance dived and frolicked ahead of the 
boat, enticing a hard and always unsuccessful chase. 
Late in the afternoon, we camped at Whiroon where 
Messrs. Davson'S Ballata grant begins, and where a 
small benab exists to mark the former camping-ground. 
The land is here slightly elevated, but not as much so as 
at Tiger Island. Between the two points, the savannah 
extends for the greater part of the way down to the 
very waterside, long stretches of which are destitute even 
of a single tree or bush. Soon after camping, one of the 
huntsmen shot a deer in the long grass, and the skin 
gave us occupation for the rest of the evening. 
The most unpleasant part of the trip was the night 
spent at this place. Soon after midnight, it became 
intensely cold ; and sleep became an impossibility. A 
large roaring fire was made up, and we all huddled round 
it, while a schnap was served out to infuse a little fresh 
spirit. The camping ground was perfectly exposed, and 
was swept by a fresh, strong breeze, from across the 
wide savannah, which breeze brought with it the mist 
rising from the creek. It was strange, however, that 
the whole party should thus have suffered at this point, 
while no inconvenience from the same cause was met 
with while travelling further inwards. 
Early next morning two hunting parties crossed the 
savannah to the forest ; but again they were unsuc- 
cessful in procuring big game. A pair of muscovy 
ducks, of which the drake was an exceedingly fine 
bird was, however, shot ; and as the species had never 
been represented in the Colonial Museum, the 
specimens were welcome additions to the collection of 
skins. Later in the morning a start was made, the back 
