Volume I Part 6 (2/2)

January 18

We got underweigh in the , but from the shallowness of the water anchored within a mile east of our foro, who had accompanied us from Swan River, was es, as soon as he understood that sohted that these blackfellows, as he calls thely valiant in conversation, and very anxious to kill one of the reat end, aim, and ambition of all Australian force or policy--he yet evidently holds these north to his account, ”Bad o, you go on shore very little, plenty Quibra o” These instructions appear to have been very carefully pressed upon him by his associates, and certainly they had succeeded in inspiring him with the utmost dread of this division of his fellow country so one of their women as proof of his prowess, back to Perth, failed to concern

(Footnote ie Men of the shi+p)

CLOUDS OF MAGELLAN

He gavea new reason to account for the appearance of the two sellan, in the folloords: ”You see,” said he, pointing up to the sky, ”little smoke” I assented at once; for certainly the clouds have very much the appearance of that to which he co tio far away up, far away, stop and never go away o evidently believed that his friend at Perth had really lighted the fire, the sone up ”far away, far away,” to ”stop and never go away ht be made, and possibly without any intention to deceive upon the part of the asserter, whothe ascent of his own fire sh the still air, in the same direction; but that it should be io, upon the mere word of his fellow countryman, did, I own, astonish me; and seems to indicate that, in their social intercourse with each other, they ard for truth than I was at first inclined to give them credit for

USELESS BAY

Mr Usborne ay to-day in one of the boats, seeking a berth for the shi+p higher up the bay: upon his return he reported that he had been over the banks before mentioned, upon which he found the water very shoal: the face of the country he described as exceedingly loith mud lumps not unlike ant-hills, scattered here and there over the face of it, and several clusters of sh no opportunity of approaching them had occurred, as the moment their restless eyes, or quick ears, detected our approach, they most rapidly retreated

(Footnote Subsequent experience literally verified this opinion)

HEAT AND SICKNESS

January 19

Two boats were despatched this , under Mr Usborne's command, to examine the eastern part of what I think may be named very properly Useless Bay This would have beenof the preceding day: the symptoms were violent headache, and a disordered state of the stoeon says, by the oppressive and overpowering heat which we have experienced for the last few days, and the general effects of which see to the shi+p's coe of the thery, is one of its most unpleasant consequences I a effect uponfrom it--is that there is hardly any variation in te the whole twenty-four hours: it sorees Captain Wickhaeon visited an inlet near the shi+p to-day, which had indeed been looked into, but not explored before They proceeded to the south-west for about three h a very tortuous channel, dry in rove bushes, over and through which the tideto that part of the country the appearance of an extensive e of land was seen froht or nine hest elevation did not reach 200 feet The apparent width of the inlet in no way di party exaeneral character of the country hereabouts, inducestide, floods the greater part of the coast between the sea shore and the base of the range I have alluded to

Vae kind were here met with, the furthest south we had seen theo had accoh he evidently showed no great devotion to the deed They said he watched everything, aye, every bush, with the aze: his head appeared to turn upon a pivot, so constantly was it in motion, with all that restless watchfulness for which the savage is ever ree, or else perhaps, as an invalid, I noticed it rees in the shade

On board, it was 90 degrees in the shade

Pulling off in the boats 118

During the day, it fluctuated, between 88 and 94

A breeze froht fro

January 20

Our noon observation to-day enabled us to fix the latitude of Cape Villaret 18 degrees 18 ned to it by Captain King

MR USBORNE WOUNDED

In the afternoon the boats returned with Mr Usborne, who had been unfortunately very severely wounded by the accidental discharge of a musket It appeared that after a careful examination of the bay, which ended as I had anticipated, in proving that no opening to the interior would be found in it, the party were returning to the boats, when, from the accidental explosion of a musket in the hand of one of the party, a ball entered Mr Usborne's right side, near the spine, between the lower rib and hip bone,an exit in a line with the navel This truly unfortunate circumstance--which for some weeks deprived the expedition of the services of a most valuable officer--occurred about 10 o'clock AM, but the tih thesome 15 miles, made it near 6 o'clock before he was on board and under the charge of Mr Bynoe: ere all shocked to see our companion lifted apparently lifeless into the vessel he had so recently quitted full of health, and animated by an anxious desire to do all in his power to conduce to the general success; but were ere long assured by Mr Bynoe, whose personal or professional ium from me--and who immediately and most carefully attended our wounded ht be reasonably hoped for: a prediction shortly afterwards happily verified At the time this unlucky accident occurred, some twenty natives rushed fro all the proceedings of the party, as though they designed to bear a part in what probably see fray: however, the sight of the two boats in the distance, which upon deploying they had full in view, deterred the such to have existed in their minds