16th May.
Early this morning the Dolphin was moved to within three miles of the
cove visited yesterday, and anchored in two and a half fathoms at the
lowest water, the landing place bearing west by north. By 11.0 a.m. the
first pair of horses were hoisted out and placed in the water under the
counter of the cutter, two other boats assisted in towing us to the
shore, which occupied about an hour; the horses, on landing, being
scarcely able to stand, from the length of time they were in the water.
On reaching the beach, a serious accident occurred to Mr. Hearson, the
second mate of the vessel, resulting from the negligence of James the
farrier, who, notwithstanding my repeated cautions to all the members of
the Expedition to keep snappers on the locks of the guns, had omitted to
do so, in consequence of which, on its being handed out, the hammer
caught on the gunwale of the boat and discharged a ball through both the
hips of the mate, causing him to fall in the water, which circumstance
fortunately tended materially to stop the haemorrhage; he was immediately
carried to a sheltered spot, and a tent pitched over him. On examining
the wound, I found the ball had entered the right posterior, passing
close below the joint, and taking an oblique direction through the lower
edge of the pelvis, made its exit in front of the left thigh, between the
femoral artery and the principal tendon, without injuring either. This
mishap and the freshening of the breeze prevented our landing any more
horses to-day, the remainder of it being spent in making a camp and
attending to the comfort of our wounded companion, who occasioned me some
anxiety, as the treatment must entirely devolve upon myself, who
possessed but a very limited amount of experience in matters of this
nature.
17th May.
Four more horses were safely landed this morning, and we were returning
to the vessel for another pair when a party of fourteen natives made
their appearance at the camp. At first they came boldly up, but on a gun
being discharged as a signal for my recall, they appeared much alarmed,
although they would not go away. Our numbers being small, I determined
not to allow them to enter the camp, on account of their propensity to
thieving, and the few that could now be spared to guard the stores was
insufficient to keep a constant watch on their stealthy movements; I
therefore tried at first to make them understand that we had taken
possession for the present, and did not want their company; they were,
however, very indignant at our endeavours to drive them away, and very
plainly ordered us off to the ship. It was very evident that our
forbearance was mistaken for weakness, and that mischief was preparing. I
accordingly took hold of one of the most refractory, and compelled him to
march off at double-quick time, when they all retired to some rocky hills
overlooking our camp, from which it was necessary to dislodge them.
Taking Mr. Brown with me, we climbed the first hill, which made them
retreat to the next. Resting ourselves for a few minutes, and taking a
view of the surrounding country, we were just on the point of returning
to the camp, when we observed three armed natives stealing down a ravine
to the horses, evidently with hostile intentions, as they shipped their
spears on getting close enough to throw; we did not, however, give them
time to accomplish their object, as we ran down the hill in time to
confront them, on which they took to the rocks. Seeing that it was now
time to convince them we were not to be trifled with, and to put a stop
at once to what I saw would otherwise terminate in bloodshed, we both
took deliberate aim and fired a couple of bullets so close to the
principal offender, that he could hardly escape feeling the effects of
the fragments of lead, as they split upon the rocks within a few feet of
his body. After dark, it set in to rain heavily for an hour, when lights
were observed moving in the direction of our horses, but the sentries
being on the alert, no further attempt was made to molest us.
18th May.
Two more horses were landed this morning; but rain setting in from the
north-west with a strong easterly wind below, a stop was put to landing
any more to-day.
19th May (Sunday).
It had rained both heavily and continuously during the night; but as our
tents were good, we did not experience much inconvenience from it, and it
gave a fair prospect of finding a good supply of water on our
contemplated trip into the interior. Mr. Hearson's wound was progressing
favourably, and I was in consequence enabled to go off to the ship and
procure a few additional comforts. On our return two more horses were
brought ashore, reducing the number on board to one-half.
20th May.
We succeeded in landing six more horses during the day; the great
distance they had to be swam ashore made the process very slow and
fatiguing, some of the horses being scarcely able to stand for some time
after landing. This morning I made a rough survey of the cove and
surrounding hills, and while so employed observed seventeen natives pass
across the shoals at low water, carrying nets but no weapons; they did
not appear to fear us, or inclined to come up to the camp; nor did we
offer them any encouragement, as in the present exposed state of our camp
they would have been very troublesome.
In the evening Mr. Brown and myself rode across the isthmus to Mermaid
Strait, and found it to form a very fine and romantic-looking little
harbour, surrounded by a bold rocky coast, giving it much more the
appearance of an inland lake than an open strait. I have no doubt but
that it would afford an excellent harbour; there is, however, reason to
think it is equally difficult of access from the main with the cove upon
which our camp is, as a wide expanse of marsh land appears to extend all
round behind the hills that bound it to the southward.
21st May.
The last four horses were landed this morning, as also the instruments
and remainder of the stores required for our first journey. The farrier,
with two assistants, was kept busily employed all day shoeing horses.