to him, was more powerful than the bondage, under the laws of his country. Many times he sold his shirt for drink, and, to use his own expression, parted with the flesh off his back for it also; for while a prisoner, he was several times flogged for being drunk. As soon as he was loosed from the triangles, he hurried on his clothes, and with his back bleeding, went to the first place where drink was sold, and drunk again! Often the declaration, "Drunkards shall not inherit eternal life," came awfully before his mind: he was alarmed, miserable, and ashamed of himself, and he cried to God for deliverance. He joined the temperance society, resolved he would leave off the use of spirits, and drink only a little wine or beer, but these kept alive his depraved appetite. He bagan to attend the Methodist meeting, hoping thereby to gain strength; but in a few weeks, he was again overcome by his old enemy, and being ashamed to be met in that condition, he left the road, and lost himself in the bush, where he remained all night, in confusion. Still, in the anguish of his soul, he cried unto the Lord for deliverance, and in this state, he attended a meeting that we held, at the Back River, New Norfolk, where his attention was directed to the Holy Spirit, as a witness against sin, revealed in the secret of the heart, and as a guide, leading those who attend to its convictions, to repentance, and to the bearing of the cross, in the practice of self-denial, and giving them a sense of their weakness, in order that they may place their trust in the Lord alone, obtain strength from him to perform his will, and receive remission of sins through Jesus Christ. These doctrines made a deep impression upon this individual, and under the conviction, wrought upon his mind, he sought divine help to leave off the use of all stimulating liquors. He not only forsook the use of spirits, but of wine and beer; he also left off smoking, and chewing tobacco; and to enable him the sooner to pay his debts, he likewise left off the use of tea and sugar. These privations were trying to him for a few weeks, after which, the desire for such indulgence left him; and he is now in better health and spirits than before. Several persons have brought liquor

to him, and tried to persuade him to drink, saying that as he had drunk, chewed, and smoked so long, he would certainly die from leaving off these practices! The poor man is now working for 10s. per week, as a builder, and is in a very humble, thankful state of mind: he walks eight miles into town, to attend our meetings, and is likely to stand his ground, so long as he continues in humility and watchful

ness.

Having engaged a passage to King Georges Sound, by way of Port Phillip and South Australia, on board the barque Eudora, of 208 tons, Stephen Addison, of Hobart Town, master, we embarked, on the 3rd of 11th month, taking rather a hasty leave of many of our friends. A few of them accompanied us on board, among whom were Daniel and Charles Wheeler, to whom we had been much united in the fellowship of the Gospel, and who sailed for England a few days afterwards.* The vessel was quickly got under weigh, our friends bid us farewell, and before we had well arranged our luggage, we were at the mouth of the Derwent. After watching the places, in which we continued to feel a deep interest, recede from our view, till they disappeared, we retired to rest, overpowered by nausea and fatigue.

• See Memoirs of the Life and Gospel Labours of the late Daniel Wheeler, published by Harvey and Darton, London, 1842.

CHAPTER XLII.

Voyage to Port Phillip.-Passengers.-Mutton Birds.-Islands.-Port Phillip. -Mission Station.-Effect of Fear upon a man bitten by a Serpent.-Indifference.-Melbourne.-Business and Wages.-Aborigines.-Influence of Society. -Esculent Roots.-Animals.-Country.-Natives' Baskets.-W. Buckley.— Lyre Bird.-Wild Dog.-Sheep.

11th mo. 6th. THERE were ten cabin passengers on board the Eudora, eight of whom were persons in the prime of life, going to Port Phillip, with a view to improving their circumstances; either by obtaining a more extended range for their flocks, than they had commanded in Tasmania, or in the expectation of obtaining more lucrative situations in this new settlement, on the south coast of the Australian Continent. In the steerage, there were several mechanics and their families, who were hoping to obtain better wages at Port Phillip, than they could get in Van Diemens Land.

At the entrance to Bass's Straits, we passed large flocks of Mutton-birds, some of which were on the wing, and others, resting on the water. The latter could not rise without difficulty, on account of the smoothness of the sea. On the Eudora coming among them, they afforded an amusing spectacle, diving in all directions, around and under the vessel, and using their long wings under the water, as if flying in that element. When the ship had passed them, they fluttered along the surface, for a considerable distance, and at length rose into the air. When once upon the wing,

for a great length of time,

they can continue their flight being more at home in the air, than either upon the water or the land.

7th. The weather was beautifully fine. We passed within a short distance of the Fourneaux Islands, which looked interesting. The desolate mountains of Cape Barren, the rugged peaks of Flinders, the smooth pyramid of Chapel Island, and the low, flat surfaces of Preservation, and Green Islands, and others of similar character, revived pleasant recollections, unaccompanied by the fatigues, and other drawbacks upon enjoyment, that attended our former voyages in these Straits. The Blossom and the John Pierie, which sailed from Hobart Town a few days before us, were just leaving the anchorage under Preservation Island, with a press of canvas, that rendered them beautiful objects. They had taken refuge under this island, from a gale that we escaped. We passed to the southward of a high rock, called The Pyramid. The evening was very fine and moonlight, with a freshening favourable breeze.

A visiter who came on board the Eudora, from one of the other vessels, was much habituated to the use of profane language, a practice, lamentably common among seafaring men. I was greatly pained with his conversation, on this account, and not seeing any opportunity for speaking to him privately, I enclosed two tracts, entitled A Christian Memento, and Thoughts on the Importance of Religion, in the following note, which was slipped into his hand, and which he afterwards acknowledged gratefully, on shore.

"Permit a stranger to commend to thy notice, the enclosed tracts, under the feeling that thy soul is precious in the sight of God, and that it ought to be precious in thy own sight, and that the days for securing its salvation are fast hastening away."

8th. The early part of the day was very foggy. We passed a little to the southward of Curtis's Islands, which are three, huge masses of rock, standing high out of the water, and having upon them no appearance of vegetation. In the same direction, we sighted the Rodonda Rock. The evening became clear, and the breeze freshened, so as to carry us along, at the rate of eight knots an hour.

9th. We passed in sight of Cape Schauck. While going at about four knots an hour, many Barracootas were taken

from the stern, by means of large hooks, baited with pieces of red rag, or of their own gills: they are fine, large fish, in form, resembling Pike, but of a bluish, silver colour, and having long, slender bones; the texture of their flesh is like that of mackerel, but tougher. Toward noon we entered Port Phillip, having just sufficient breeze to carry us in, against the nearly spent ebb-tide, and we dropped anchor under Point Nepean, where some of the passengers immediately went on shore. The rock here is soft, and Calcareous, and rises into low hills. These are covered with Kangaroo-grass, trees, and shrubs; the beach is sandy, with shells, among which were the Zigzag Volute, and Paper Nautilus. Casuarina quadrivalvis, Banksia australis, and other Tasmanian trees grow here, also a N. S. Wales Eucalyptus, and several shrubs and plants that are found on Flinders Island. I likewise met with a shrub, belonging to the genus Croton, and two Goodenias, that I had not noticed before. We bathed in shallow water, to avoid sharks, and got on board again, after being wet by a heavy thunder-storm.

10th. We made a good passage, to the anchorage at Gellibrands Point, at the north-east angle of Port Phillip, passing up the eastern channel. Though it is not yet marked by buoys, we only once touched, on the end of a sand-bank, when the vessel was in stays, and she immediately worked off again. An officer, connected with the customs, who boarded us, and took our mail on shore, gratefully accepted a few tracts, intimating, that there was much need for the attention of the people here, to be stirred up to the importance of temperance and religion; both being greatly neglected. Our captain went up to Melbourne with this individual, but the hour being late, we remained on board. The day was very warm, the thermometer on ship-board 80°. We afterwards learned, that it had stood at 107°, on shore, during this and the three previous days, but several of those following were very cool. Port Phillip may be called a small, inland sea; the land is not visible across it, except where elevated. In the course of our day's sail, we were close in with the shore, below Arthurs Seat, a