. We had passed through the country which the
discoverers of Botany Bay extol as 'some of the finest meadows in the
world*.' These meadows, instead of grass, are covered with high coarse
rushes, growing in a rotten spongy bog, into which we were plunged
knee-deep at every step.

[*The words which are quoted may be found in Mr. Cook's first voyage, and
form part of his description of Botany Bay. It has often fallen to my lot
to traverse these fabled plains; and many a bitter execration have I heard
poured on those travellers, who could so faithlessly relate what they saw.]

Our final effort was made at half past one o'clock next morning; and after
four hours toil, ended as those preceding it had done, in disappointment
and vexation. At nine o'clock we returned to Sydney, to report our
fruitless peregrination.

But if we could not retaliate on the murderer of M'Entire, we found no
difficulty in punishing offences committed within our own observation. Two
natives, about this time, were detected in robbing a potato garden. When
seen, they ran away, and a sergeant and a party of soldiers were dispatched
in pursuit of them. Unluckily it was dark when they overtook them, with
some women at a fire; and the ardour of the soldiers transported them so
far that, instead of capturing the offenders, they fired in among them. The
women were taken, but the two men escaped.

On the following day, blood was traced from the fireplace to the sea-side,
where it seemed probable that those who had lost it, had embarked. The
natives were observed to become immediately shy; but an exact knowledge of
the mischief which had been committed, was not gained until the end of two
days, when they said that a man of the name of Bangai (who was known to
be one of the pilferers) was wounded and dead. Imeerawanyee, however,
whispered that though he was wounded, he was not dead. A hope now existed
that his life might be saved; and Mr. White, taking Imeerawanyee, Nanbaree,
and a woman with him, set out for the spot where he was reported to be. But
on their reaching it, they were told by some people who were there that the
man was dead, and that the corpse was deposited in a bay about a mile
off. Thither they accordingly repaired, and found it as described,
covered--except one leg, which seemed to be designedly left bare--with
green boughs and a fire burning near it. Those who had performed the
funeral obsequies seemed to have been particularly solicitous f