an area of sixteen square miles for their nests, at a yard asunder. From what is now known of their breeding places, they probably occupy a much larger extent of ground than sixteen square miles, in the various places of their resort.

18th. Yesterday was stormy, and the wind adverse: W. J. Darling brought four Aborigines on board, to accompany him to the Hunter Islands. The vessel remaining at anchor to-day, we went again upon Green Island, which has several small sandy bays.-When the Mutton-birds take flight, they either rise from elevated places, or from the edge of the cliff, or they run over the beach and upon the water, flapping their wings, till at length, after passing two or three considerable waves, they succeed in gaining sufficient elevation to enable them to mount into the air.

The four Aborigines took tea with us in the cabin: they were very cheerful, and used cups and saucers with dexterity.—When Jumbo first came on board, she was shown a musical box, constructed like a musical snuff-box. Having been brought up among Europeans, she did not feign inattention to novelties, as is common with her country people, but showed pleasure and astonishment, in a remarkable degree. Listening with intensity, her ears moved like those of a dog or horse, to catch the sound (a circumstance that J. Munro, with whom she had lived from childhood, said he had not before noticed) and at intervals she laughed immoderately.-When on the island one of the women threw some sticks at J. Thornloe, on his mentioning her son, who is at school at Newtown. The mention of an absent relative is considered offensive by them, and especially if deceased.

19th. We sailed from Green Island, and put J. Munro on shore on Preservation Island. The tide-ripple, which is occasioned by the meeting of different currents, is very strong in many parts of the straits; it threatened to swallow up the boat in returning from Preservation. Many voices called to the man who was in it, not to be afraid, saying there was no danger, while the faces of the same parties betrayed their own fears: he, however, succeeded in reaching the vessel, amidst tremendous billows, which were so high

that a green light shone through them in a remarkable manner. Some Pelicans and a flock of Cape Barren Geese were on a rock called Rum Island, near which we passed. 20th. The night was boisterous, and many scenes occurred in it, calculated to excite laughter, even in the midst of much that was uncomfortable, and that would have been very trying, but for hope of a speedy change. At day light, we stood for the land, and soon descried it, near the heads of the Tamar or Port Dalrymple,-an estuary extending to Launceston, and near to the mouth of which, George Town is situated. On reaching this place we "brought up," to take in some stores, and were kindly received by the Port Officer, Matthew Curling Friend, late of the Norval, in which vessel he brought us some boxes of clothing and tracts to Launceston, free of charge, on his own part, as a token of his approval of the cause in which we are engaged.

CHAPTER VIII.

George Town.-The Tamar River.-Launceston. -Meeting.-Aborigines. — Plants.-Leeches.-Kangaroos.-Middle Arm.-Tide Ripple.-N. Coast.Blacks charged with Murder.-Mode of transferring fire -Black women rescued. Circular Head.-V. D. Land Company's Establishment.-Islands.Woolnorth.-Rocks.-Cape Grim.-Bird Islands.-Kelp.-Mutton-fish.---Native Doctor.-Seeking a Needle. -Decoration.-Remembrance of absent Friends. Habitations.-Tribes.-Burning the dead.

GEORGE TOWN is a small assemblage of scattered houses, a few of which are of stone, and the rest of weather-board. This place was originally intended to be the chief port in the north of V. D. Land; but Launceston took the precedence, having greater advantages, notwithstanding its distance is forty miles from the sea; and the police, and other establishments were removed thither. In the afternoon, the wind and tide serving, we proceeded up the Tamar, which is devious in its course, and opens out into many pretty bays. The shores present traces of basalt. The adjacent country is hilly, and wooded down to the water, except in places where the land has been cleared; on which corn and grass are verdant. Some of the habitations of the settlers look comfortable. We completed the last few miles of our voyage in the dark, in a boat, and met a hearty welcome at Launceston, from Isaac and Katharine Sherwin, a thoughtful young couple from whom we had received a previous invitation.

21st. We visited a school that does not belong to any particular denomination of Christians, but is supported by several, and is in a thriving condition: we also had a meeting in a small court-house, at which two hundred persons might be present. I went to this meeting feeling poor and empty, but

deriving some comfort from the expressions of the apostle Paul: “I was with you in weakness and in fear, and in much trembling." In this state, I found it my duty to attend to the injunction: "Thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face," and to put my trust in the Lord.— I had not sat long, before I apprehended it to be right for me to stand up, and explain briefly our views of worship, and to point out the necessity of sincerity, and of the sacrifice of our own wills, in order to being prepared to obtain the blessings of the Gospel. I was led also to speak on other points, connected with the glorious plan of redemption through faith in Jesus Christ, and on the necessity of good works, as the fruit of this faith; and on the benefit of frequent and fervent prayer, as well as on communing with our own hearts before the Lord, in order to feel our spiritual necessities, and to know what to pray for, &c. Thus, in condescending mercy, help was afforded to the weak, and the grain of faith that was exercised, was strengthened. There seemed to be an open ear in the congregation.

22nd. The population of Launceston is about 2,000. The streets are regularly laid out. Most of the houses are weather-boarded, but there are a few substantial ones, of brick. The Episcopal place of worship-the only one here— is a neat edifice of stone. The town is situated at the confluence of the North and South Esk, which here discharge themselves into the head of the Tamar. The South Esk rushes through a deep, narrow, picturesque, basaltic gorge, called The Cataract, distant about half a mile from the town, which is pleasantly situated, and has anchorage for ships of considerable burden near its quay.

W. J. Darling had the four natives that he brought with him from Flinders Island, dressed in decent clothes, and he took them into the town, where their cheerful, intelligent appearance excited a favourable impression in the minds of many who had known little of the Aborigines but as exasperated enemies, charged with treachery and implacable cruelty.— We called on Major Fairtlough, the Commandant, who received us politely. At his house we learned that the cutter was going to sail immediately; we therefore proceeded to

the jetty, where we were requested to take seats in the Port Officer's boat. A dispute arose between the cockswain and the harbour-master, both of whom, we soon discovered, were intoxicated, and this proved also to be the case with several of the crew. The harbour-master remonstrated against the boat proceeding, but the cockswain persisted in putting off: he soon brought us alongside of a ship lying at anchor, where he took in two prisoners to assist in pulling the boat: they were not very expert hands; and when the cockswain recovered from the effects of his intemperance, he desired to know who they were, and from whence they came, and he turned them both on shore! Committing the steering of the boat to G. W. Walker, and himself taking an oar with the men, they brought us in safety to the cutter, which had proceeded some miles down the Tamar.-When the tide was spent, we dropped anchor and went on shore. The natives pursued some kangaroos, casting off all their clothes in the chase. -We supped at a public-house by the water-side, where we had some conversation with a settler, respecting the atrocities committed by some reckless individuals upon the Aborigines; these were of such character, as to remove any wonder at the determination of these injured people, to try to drive from their land a race of men, among whom were persons guilty of such deeds.-In our ramble this evening, as well as in one at the Cataract, this morning, we noticed several striking shrubs in blossom; among them were a Prostanthera, with long spike-like branches of beautiful, purple flowers. Veronica formosa-a myrtle-like bush with lovely, blue blossoms, and Clematis blanda, with a profusion of fragrant, white flowers, an inch across.-When out this evening, Jumbo turned up her heel, and with a laugh, asked what that was, pointing to a leech as large as a black snail, that was biting her: she plucked it off and threw it away. One of the men pointed to the ground, and said in broken English, "Two more crackne here," i. e. rest, remain, or are here. One of the Blacks got the Commandant's hat and decorated it with the twining branches of Comesperma volubilis, covered with bright blue flowers resembling those of Milkwort.

23rd. The tide not serving till noon, I took a walk alone,

H