also
we were working our way down the eastern coast of Shark Bay in the boats
others of the party had got into a very desponding state, one of whom,
Henry Woods, had even gone so far as to tell me when I remonstrated with
him on this point that he knew that the greater part of us wore doomed,
and that our lives were worth nothing.

My anxiety for those I had left behind me now increased, and about an
hour and a half before daylight I started for Perth with Imbat, leaving
the others to follow as rapidly as they could, and telling them that I
would have food ready for them at Williams's cottage, who was the settler
living farthest north from Perth. In about an hour and a half I reached
Williams's hut, which I entered, and found his wife and another woman at
breakfast.

I had often got a drink of milk at this cottage when I had before been at
Perth, and I flattered myself that Mrs. Williams would recollect me;
little calculating how strangely want and suffering had changed my
appearance. The two women only stared with the utmost surprise and said,
"Why, Magic, what's the matter with you?" (They alluded to a crazy Malay
who used to visit the outsettler's houses, and who had somehow or the
other acquired the nickname of Magic.) I was rather hurt at my reception
and said, "I am not Magic;" at this they both burst into a roar of
laughter and Mrs. Williams said, "Well, then, my good man, who are you?"
"One who is almost starved," was my reply. "Will you take this then,"
said my hostess, handing me a cup of tea she was raising to her lips.
"With all my heart and soul, and God reward you for it," was my answer,
and I swallowed the delicious draught. Imbat, who had been to search for
Williams, now came in and explained who I was; in a few minutes more I
was seated at a comfortable breakfast; water was put on to boil, and by
the time the things were prepared the rest of the party came up.

ARRIVAL AND RECEPTION AT PERTH. NOT RECOGNIZED BY MY FRIENDS.

I now washed and made myself as clean as possible. I could obtain no
conveyance to take us on to Perth and therefore started to walk in with
Imbat, leaving the others to complete their breakfast; but I soon found
myself dreadfully ill from having eaten too profusely; still I pushed on
as well as I could, and in about an hour and a half reached the house of
my friend, L. Samson, Esquire. He could not believe it was me whom he
beheld, but having convinced himself of the fact he made