comprehended the nature of our errand, for he described
him to have fled to the southward; and to be at such a distance, as had we
known the account to be true, would have prevented our going in search of
him, without a fresh supply of provisions.

When we arrived at our baggage, Colbee sat down, ate, drank, and slept with
us, from ten o'clock until past noon. We asked him several questions about
Sydney, which he had left on the preceding day*; and he told us he had been
present at an operation performed at the hospital, where Mr. White had cut
off a woman's leg. The agony and cries of the poor sufferer he depicted in
a most lively manner.

[*He had it seems visited the governor about noon, after having gained
information from Nanbaree of our march, and for what purpose it was
undertaken. This he did not scruple to tell to the governor; proclaiming
at the same time, a resolution of going to Botany Bay, which his excellency
endeavoured to dissuade him from by every argument he could devise: a
blanket, a hatchet, a jacket, or aught else he would ask for, was offered
to him in vain, if he would not go. At last it was determined to try to eat
him down, by setting before him his favourite food, of which it was hoped
he would feed so voraciously, as to render him incapable of executing his
intention. A large dish of fish was accordingly set before him. But after
devouring a light horseman, and at least five pounds of beef and bread,
even until the sight of food became disgusting to him, he set out on his
journey with such lightness and gaiety, as plainly shewed him to be a
stranger to the horrors of indigestion.]

At one o'clock we renewed our march, and at three halted near a freshwater
swamp, where we resolved to remain until morning: that is, after a day of
severe fatigue, to pass a night of restless inquietude, when weariness is
denied repose by swarms of mosquitoes and sandflies, which in the summer
months bite and sting the traveller, without measure or intermission.

Next morning we bent our steps homeward; and, after wading breast-high
through two arms of the sea, as broad as the Thames at Westminster, were
glad to find ourselves at Sydney, between one and two o'clock in the
afternoon.

The few remarks which I was able to make on the country through which we
had passed, were such as will not tempt adventurers to visit it on the
score of pleasure or advantage. The soil of every part of the peninsula,
which we had