The boats then sailed away with a nice easterly breeze, and in McLennan’s Straits hundreds of blackfellows were seen up in the trees shouting and shaking their spears; but the boats were kept away in mid-stream, out of reach of the weapons.

That night the camp was made at Boney Point, near the mouth of the River Avon; the name was given to it on account of the large quantity of human bones found there.  No watch was kept, as it was believed that all the blacks had been left behind in McLennan’s Straits.  There was still some whisky left in the keg; and, before going to sleep, Orr, Loughnan, and Sheridan sang and drank alternately until the vessel was empty.  At daylight they pulled up the Avon and landed at Clydebank, which was at that time one of Macalister’s stations, but afterwards belonged to Thomson and Cunningham.  After breakfast they walked to Raymond’s station at Stratford, and then to McMillan’s at Bushy Park.

The cattle brought over the mountains into Gippsland soon grew fat, and the first settlers sold some of them to other men who came to search for runs; but the local demand was soon supplied.  In two years and a half all the best land was occupied.  An intending settler, who had driven a herd of cattle seven hundred miles, had some bitter complaints to make about the country in June, 1843.  He said:  “The whole length of Gippsland, from the bore of the mountains in which the road comes, is 110 miles, and the breadth about fifteen miles, the whole area 1650 square miles, one-third of which is useless through scrub and morass, which leaves only 1,100 square miles come-at-able at all, and nearly a third of this is useless.  On this 1,100 square miles of land there are 45,000 sheep, 1,500 cattle, and 300 horses.  Other herds of cattle and about 2,000 sheep are expected daily.  The blacks are continuing their outrages, robbing huts and gardens and slaughtering cattle wholesale, Messrs. Pearson and Cunningham being the latest sufferers by the cannibals.  Sheep shearing is nearly completed, after paying a most exorbitant price to the shearers.* The wool is much lighter than in any other part of the colony, and the skins much thicker than in hotter climates;” and lastly, “A collection has been made for the support of a minister.”  But the minister was not supported long, and he had to shake the dust of Gippsland off his feet.  From Dan to Beersheba—­from the bore in the mountains to the shores of Corner Inlet, all was barren to this disappointed drover.

[Footnote] In the season of 1844 the average price per 100 for sheep-shearing was 8s.; the highest price asked, 8s. 6d.