the landing-place and situated at the junction of two valleys, upon a neck of land which ran out from the base of the cliffs.  This was the nearest point to the sea at which we should have been safe from any sudden inundation; it combined, moreover, the advantages of affording a good supply of food and water for the stock, of not being within reach of missiles thrown from the cliffs, and at the same time of being situated close to an easy ascent to their summit.  I should have preferred pitching the encampment on the tableland at the top, but the labour of carrying the stores up so precipitous an ascent would have been too great for the men, and would have delayed our movements for a longer time than I thought prudent.

Preparations for encamping.

Having selected the point for our encampment the next task was to form a pathway to and from the landing-place; and this, on account of the rocky, broken nature of the ground, was one of no slight difficulty.  We first set fire to the bush, and being thus enabled to see our way a little we commenced moving the rocks and stones, and continued this operation until near sunset, when we returned on board.

Natives seen.

December 7.

We landed again early this morning and went on working at the pathway.  The men dined on shore at noon, about which time it was nearly low-water.  We had repeatedly seen footmarks of the natives in the mud, and this probably was a favourite fishing resort of theirs, for this day they came upon the cliffs over our heads and shouted at us, as if to try and frighten us away.  Finding however that this produced no effect, they threw down some large stones at us and then decamped.

In the course of the night (2 A.M.) we had one of those sudden heavy squalls from off the land which are so common on this coast.  I slept on deck and was called to hear a loud roaring on the shore:  this was evidently the noise of a rushing wind, which gradually drew nearer and nearer and at last reached us, accompanied by lightning, thunder, and heavy rain; it did not however last for more than twenty minutes, and we received no damage from it.

December 8.

Whilst the party continued the pathway I landed on the sandy beach and explored the interior of the country for several miles.  We found but very little fresh water and the country was dreadfully burnt up; the heavy rain which had fallen last night however gave signs of the approach of the wet season.  We passed several dry watercourses, in many of which we dug for it, but all that we obtained was brackish.  We had another squall this afternoon, similar to last night’s.

Landing stock.  Labour in landing stores.

December 9.

This day we pitched the tents, disembarked the sheep and goats, and some of the stores.  It was no slight pleasure to see for the first time those animals landed on a new country, and they appeared themselves to rejoice in their escape from the close confinement on shipboard.