e found: the soil of the island
was sandy, and all the rain had soaked into it and disappeared. The
damper having been exposed to the weather was saturated with water.
There was in the boat a large three-legged iron pot, half filled with
fat, a hard and compact dainty not liable to be spilled or wasted,
and in it had been stewed many a savoury meal of sandpipers, parrots,
rats, and quail. This pot had been fortunately left upright and
uncoveredduring the night, and the abundant rain had filled it with
fresh water. Davy, with the intuition of artistic genius, at once
saw the means of producing a repast fit for the gods. He poured the
water which covered the fat from the iron pot into the kettle, which
he placed on the fire for the purpose of making tea. He cut the
sodden damper into substantial slices, put them into the pot, and
cooked them in the fat over the fire. When well done they tasted
like fried bread, and gave entire satisfaction; Mr. Reeve observing,
when the feast was finished, that he had never in all his life eaten
a better breakfast.

A start was made for the port, but the wind came dead ahead, and the
men had to pull the whole way across the inlet, through the
Caledonian Canal, and as far as Long Point. There they went ashore
for a rest, and Mr. Reeve asked Davy if he could find the mouth of
the Tarra River. Davy said he had never been there, but he had no
doubt that he could find it, as he had seen the river when he was
duck-shooting. It was then high water, and the wind still blowing
strongly from the west, so a reef was taken in the lug, and the boat
ran right into the Tarra as far as the site of the present
court-house. There the party landed, and after looking at the
country Mr. Reeve decided to take up his special survey there. It
was partly open forest, but it contained, also, a considerable area
of rich flats covered with luxuriant tea tree and myrtle scrub, which
in course of time became mingled with imported blackberry bushes,
whins, sweetbriar, and thistles. Any quantity of labour might be
spent on it with advantage to the owner, so the following
advertisement appeared in the public journals:

TO CAPITALISTS AND THE INDUSTRIOUS LABOURING CLASS.

GIPPSLAND--PORT ALBERT.

An accurate plan of Mr. Reeve's Special Survey of Tarra Vale having
been completed, notice is hereby given that farms of various sizes
are now open for sale or lease. The proprietor chiefly desires the
establi