large and pendulous, is placed before; and the female has on the belly an oblong pouch of a vast depth, the receptacle of her young."

"The kankuroo is frequently more than six feet long from the nose to the tail; and its weight is a hundred and fifty pounds and upwards." "Kanguroo is the natives name for this extraordinary animal." "It lurks among the grass, feeds on vegetables, and drinks by lapping. It goes chiefly on its hind legs, making use of the fore feet as hands, only for digging or bringing its food to its mouth." "This animal is timid; at the sight of men it flies from them by amazing leaps; springing over bushes seven or eight feet high and going progressively from rock to rock.” “When in motion, this animal carries its tail quite at right angles with its body; and as it alights often looks back. It is much too swift for greyhounds, and frequently escapes from the fleetest of those animals. The tail is its weapon of defence, with which it is capable of beating away the strongest dog." "The kanguroo soon becomes domesticated when taken."

"Mr. Pannant, the celebrated English naturalist, gives the following account of one he saw in London during 1793; it was, says Mr. Pannant, in a place of confinement; it for a little time went on all fours, but soon assumed an upright attitude. It would sport with its keeper in a very singular manner; it first placed its tail in a perpendicular manner; erected its body on it as a prop, and then raising its whole body, darted its hind legs on the breast of the man. It was capable of striking with great force if provoked; and it could scratch violently with its fore claws."

I have had many opportunities of acquiring a knowledge of the kanguroo. I have frequently had six or eight of them alive at a time on board my ship. They are the most innocent animals that I know of. I have seen them eat flowers or berries out of a person's hand on the same day they were caught. The method by which they are taken is by dogs, that are learnt to hold them fast till the huntsman could come up, when they were secured without sustaining any injury whatever. Their flesh is the dark. est coloured of any animals that I have ever seen, and is without any fat; but is very sweet and delicate flavoured. Its skin makes

CHAPTER XXIV.

Transactions at New Holland, Van Dieman's Land, and Bass's Straits-Letter to Philip Gedney King, Governor General of New South Wales-Remarka ble Accident of the Pilgrim's boat being sunk-Departure from Bass's Straits-Description of the Snares-Bounty Islands-Passage across the South Pacific Ocean-Description of a Bay on the Coast of Peru, latitude 20-Description of Arraca-Blow Hole Bay--Pisco-and arrival st

Lima.

We

ON our first arrival in this country we made King's Island on the 20th of February, 1804, as has been before described. On this island as well as on the other large islands in Bass's Straits are to be found most of the quadrupeds, the feathered race, serpents, and reptiles that inhabit the main island of New South Wales. took our station in Kent's Bay at anchor, where the ship Perseverance remained moored from the 3d of March till the 23d of October. I made two excursions in the schooner Pilgrim to the Derwent river, and out round the south cape of Van Dieman's Land. My brother Samuel made two trips in her to Port Jackson and Botany Bay, and some others in the straits. Having a greater part of the time from four to seven boats exploring the islands in all directions in search of seals, which were the principal object of our pursuit. Several circumstances took place while we lay here; some of which I shall relate. As soon as it was known that our vessels were in the straits, I was visited by six different gangs of men belonging to Fort Jackson, who were here on the same business with ourselves; all of which were out of provisions. I considered their situation to be similar to people that I had been acquainted with on other sealing islands; though I afterwards found that it was not half so bad, owing to the advantages of the different sorts

of game that were to be obtained on the surrounding islands. I supplied all their wants, taking orders on their employers at Sydney Cove, every one of which was honoured at sight, and accompanied with thanks; but the ungrateful men whom I had supplied, and relieved of their wants, did every thing in their power to injure me. The leading motive was to prevent me from getting seal. Their ideas were, that no foreigner had any right to that priviledge near the colony.

These men practised many impositions, such as stealing from me, enticing my men to run away, conspiring to steal my boats, and to cut my vessels adrift. They would sometimes go on to an island, where my people were waiting for an opportunity to take the seals that were about it; and if not able to take them themselves do something to frighten them away. They would say and do all in their power to irritate and vex my people, in order to cause them to do something that was reprehensible. I had to use all my authority to keep my men under subjection; telling them that I would apply to the governor at Port Jackson, and as I had business there unsettled, it would not do for them to undertake to redress their own grievances. My people were certainly under as good discipline as any merchant ship's crew whatever. I kept clear of an open rupture for some months; during which time some of my people left me, as they said, "because they would not be tied down to such close orders as to be obliged to put up with any insults from such villians." At length the time arrived when I was ready to dispatch the Pilgrim for Port Jackson. I wrote to the governor general of New South Wales, whose name was Philip Gedney King, the following letter.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR KING.

SIR,

Ship Perseverance, Cape Barren, August 4th, 1804.

THE bearer, my brother, who commands the schooner Pilgrim, will hand you this, he comes to settle some little business, and if

it should meet your excellency's approbation, to purchase some necessaries for our subsistence on board the ship.

"I came to King's Island on false information, with the hope of procuring a cargo of seal skins; I was much surprised to find people on that island from Sydney, and very much disappointed at not finding any seals on it of any consequence. The information I had of the place came to me second handed from the French commodore, that was recently on this coast on survey and discovery. After finding myself disappointed at King's Island, I ran down into the straits in hopes of finding something there worth our attention, but was still unsuccessful. We here found the Integrity cutter, which was lying in the passage, and before we came up with her she made a signal of distress, we came to an anchor near her, went on board and learnt she had lost her rudder. The next morning I ordered the Pilgrim to take her in tow, and assist her in getting into Kent's Bay, where she was brought safe. I then offered any assistance in my power to fit the rudder for her, but the spare irons we had on board the Pilgrim were so long they would not answer. Governor Bowen then agreed with me to carry the passengers, and other articles to the Derwent, for the sum of £400 sterling. We unloaded the Pilgrim, took the freight and passengers on board, conducted and delivered them safe. He then gave me a draft on your Excellency for the sum, which I hope will meet your approbation; my brother will present it.

"It is with extreme pain that I trouble your Excellency with any complaint whatever; but as it may prevent future misunderstanding, I think I cannot do less than to make your Excellency acquainted with it. There is a man in this place by the name of Joseph Morril, who has a little vessel belonging to Messrs. Kable and Underwood, and has a gang of men with him; he has taken it into his head that we have no right to procure seals in these straits, and has been for a long time trying to drive us out of them, (as he says,) and I believe that the man would have accomplished his design if it had not been in the winter season; and myself some thing of an old weather beaten sailor, that dreaded going out ⚫ in such extreme blowing weather, (as we have had here,) without the probability of profiting by it on my part. I at first thought the man too insignificant to take notice of, but I was mis