near sundown, and at least two days would be required to
head the river, I decided upon allowing two of my Sydney natives to swim
across it, and go to the vessel, distant about seven miles, to fetch the
boat. Bullet and Bungit started on this enterprise, and returned in
about three hours from the time of their departure. Their return with
the boat was most opportune as we had got on the point of junction of
the two rivers, where the tide had set in, and was already up to my
ankles. I first despatched the party with the dogs in the boat to the
opposite bank, and, on the return of the boat, myself and old Bull, who
had cut his foot, went in first-rate style, to the vessel. I hope my
travelling on foot will terminate, at least for some time. I had now
accomplished a most arduous undertaking, and, in order to secure the
fruits of my exertions I intend leaving Gumm, Dodds, Thomson, and three
of my Sydney natives--Bungit, Bullet, and old Bull--as overseers and
bailiffs of my newly acquired territory, and of the possession of which
nothing short of a premature disclosure of my discovery on the part of
my companions, can possibly deprive me. These people I intend leaving at
Indented Heads, as my head depot, with a supply of necessaries for at
least three months. The chiefs of the Port Phillip tribe made me a
present of three stone tomahawks, some spears, wommeras, boomerangs, and
other weapons of warfare.

_June 8th._ This morning the winds set in foul for Indented Heads, and,
having made several attempts to get out of the river, we gave it up as
hopeless. We went in the boat, up the large river coming from the east,
and after examination six miles up, I was pleased to find the water
quite fresh and very deep. This will be the place for the future
village.

TRANSPORTATION

+Source.+--Report from the Select Committee of the House of Commons on
Transportation (Molesworth, 1838), pp. 8-10, 31-33, 43

As Australia was shown to offer greater and greater attractions to
free settlers the agitation against transportation increased. In
1838 the British Government appointed a Select Committee to inquire
into and report upon the whole system. Their verdict is given
below.

To plant a colony, and to form a new society, has ever been an arduous
task. In addition to the natural difficulties arising from ignorance of
the nature of the soil, and of the climate of a new country, the first
settlers have gen