Sunday, 4. a.m.—At 11 the Governor and all the officers, &c., &c., attended divine service. At ½-past 12 sent all my letters on board the Lady Nelson brig. Dind with Capt. Merthow on board the Ocean transport. C.S., Despatch.
Monday, 5. a.m.—At 9 I went on board the Ocean with Mr. Humphrys. 10 Capt. Merthow, Mr. Brown (the botanist), and we went to Risdon Cove, where we dind with Mr. Mountgarret. At 4 we all went up the Derwent River, where we slept on the west side of it, about 17 miles from the camp; I killd two black swans. C.S., Herdsmans Cove; Parole, Excursion.
Tuesday, 6. a.m.—At 5 we all got in our boats and went 5 miles up the river and breakfasted; on the east side of the river got some more swans. At 10 we got into the boats again and went 10 miles further up, where we dind, and pitchd our boat sails for a tent. At 4 Mr. Mountgarret and Mr. Humphrys left us for Risdon Creek. Capt. Merthow and self went a shooting; killd a pigeon. At 6 a.m. H.M. Brig Lady Nelson saild for Pt. Jackson with a fair wind. C.S., Pillar.
Wednesday, 7. a.m.—At 6 we breakfasted. ½-past 7 Capt. Merthow and self went a shooting 15 miles up the river. Mr. Brown went up the mountains a botanizing. The river took these directions, where the falls of water were:—1, fall reach, E. to W.; 2d., from S.E. to N.W.; 3rd reach, S.-W.; 4th, W.S.W.; 5th reach, N.b.W. We walkd on the west side of the river; the hills, &c., very high. When one side of the river was hilly the other a vally, and it continued so for more than 40 miles from the camp, where there was an extensive plain of very few trees. We see kangaroos, emews, pigeons, and parrotts. At ½-past 4 we return to the hut we left in the morn. During our walk we a great many native hutts and the fires they made; no doubt they see us. In the eve the natives made a fire near where we slep, on the west side of the river. C. Sign, Hogan.
Thursday, 8. a.m.—At 5 rain, with hard squalls. We struck our canvass and saild for Herdsman's Cove, where we reachd about 10 and breakfasted; the land appeard not very good. At 12 as we were coming from thence a native appeard, but the distance was too great to discover much of him. Strong breezes and squally. At 5 we arrivd at the Ocean, where we dind, and went to the camp at ½-past 6. C.S., Palmer.
The first party that went on excursion up the river.
1 South in copy.
2 An illegible word here.
