down trees—you know that bathing when warm is an old and favourite practice of mine. We now say that winter is over.
29th. Our discussions about the proposed bank have been renewed. Numerous borrowers, but no lenders! I have decided against becoming a shareholder; and am convinced of the advantage which every one here would derive by leaving 50l. or 100l. every year at home, to be expended in such investments as he might direct. These would bring a return of at least 100 per cent.
31st.—James came to me this morning to know what is to be done for his eye, which was a little sore the other day—the blockhead got at my medicine chest, when I was at Perth, and applied a blister to it.
Sept. 1st.—A wet and stormy day, such as it was on the 30th ult., and very like the weather which we experienced a week after this time last year, when we commenced our expedition over the hills. The river is now higher than I have ever before seen it; but far from the elevation which those who were here in 1829 speak of; yet everything is growing rapidly, and this morning I heard the notes of at least six different species of birds. It has been assumed and believed that there are no singing birds in Australia: those which I have
