Our sportsmen had been actively and successfully employed during our absence, having shot a great number of quail; they had seen two emus, and Messrs. Bynoe and Dring had obtained several specimens of rare birds, all of which are now figured by Mr. Gould in his Birds of Australia.  A few natives had also been seen, but they were too wary to permit any intercourse with them.

March 4.

This was Sunday, and no imperative necessity hindered our making it a day of rest.  Various necessary observations occupied the greater part of Monday; and, on the day following, the ship was moved, under my guidance, to an anchorage, in 5 fathoms (low-water) 2 1/2 miles west from Point Torment.

CHAPTER 1.7.  THE FITZROY RIVER TO PORT GEORGE THE FOURTH, AND RETURN TO SWAN RIVER.

Examination of the Fitzroy River. 
Excursion into the interior. 
Alarm of the Natives. 
Ascent of the River. 
Sufferings from Mosquitoes. 
Red Sandstone. 
Natives again surprised. 
Appearance of the Country. 
Impediments in the River. 
Return of the boats. 
An Alligator. 
Stokes’ Bay. 
Narrow escape of an Officer. 
Change of Landscape. 
Pheasant-Cuckoos. 
A new Vine. 
Compass Hill. 
Port Usborne. 
Explore the eastern shore of King’s Sound. 
Cone Bay. 
Native Fires. 
Whirlpool Channel. 
Group of Islands. 
Sterile aspect of the Coast. 
Visited by a Native. 
Bathurst Island. 
Native Hut and Raft. 
Return to Port Usborne. 
Native Spears. 
Cascade Bay. 
Result of Explorations in King’s Sound. 
Interview with Natives. 
Coral Reefs. 
Discover Beagle Bank. 
Arrival at Port George the Fourth. 
Examination of Collier Bay in the boats. 
Brecknock Harbour. 
The Slate Islands. 
Freshwater Cove. 
An Eagle shot. 
Its singular nest. 
Rock Kangaroos. 
A Conflagration. 
Sandstone Ridges. 
Doubtful Bay. 
Mouth of the Glenelg. 
Remarkable Tree. 
Fertile Country near Brecknock Harbour. 
Return to the Ship. 
Meet with Lieutenant Grey. 
His sufferings and discoveries. 
Visit the Encampment. 
Timor Ponies. 
Embarkation of Lieutenant Grey’s Party. 
Sail from Port George the Fourth. 
Remarks on position of Tryal Rock. 
Anecdotes of Miago. 
Arrival at Swan River. 
Directions for entering Owen’s Anchorage.

March 7, 1838.

We spent the morning in making the necessary preparations, and in the afternoon started to resume our examination of Fitzroy River.  Captain Wickham and Lieutenant Eden in the gig, and myself, accompanied by Mr. Tarrant, in one of the whaleboats; we reached the mangrove isles at sunset, and spent the night between them and the eastern shore.  On the 8th the tide suited us but badly, and we were only able to proceed about four miles beyond Escape Point, where we secured the boats in a creek out of the influence of the tide.  We found much less water off Escape Point than on our former visit.