Bathing, Fishing and a Kangaroo
We had harnessed the ass and the cow to our sledge; and, resting
our guns upon our shoulders, began our journey. We bade adieu to
our companions, and put our animals in motion. We took the road by
the seashore, where the sands afforded better travelling for our
vehicle than the thick wild grass. We reached Family Bridge, on
Jackal’s River, and arrived at Tent House without either obstacle or
adventure, and unharnessed the animals to let them graze, while we
set to work to load the sledge with the cask of butter, the cask of
cheese, a small barrel of gunpowder, different instruments, small
ball and some shot. These exertions had so occupied our thoughts,
that it was late when we first observed that our animals, attracted
by the excellent quality of the grass on the other side of the river,
had repassed the bridge, and wandered so far as to be out of sight.
I was in hopes they would be easily found, and directed Ernest to go
with Flora and bring them back, intending in the meantime to look for
a convenient place on the other side of Tent House to bathe in. In a
short time I found myself at the extremity of Providence Bay, which
ended, as I now perceived, in a marsh, producing some fine bulrushes;
and further on was a chain of steep rocks, advancing somewhat into
the sea, and forming a kind of creek, as if expressly contrived for
bathing.
I desired Ernest to fill a small bag with some of the salt he had
formerly observed here, and then to empty it into the large one for
the ass to carry; and to take care to fill equally on each side.
“During this time I will take the refreshment of bathing; and then it
will be your turn to bathe, and mine to take care of the animals.”
I returned to the rocks, and was not disappointed in my expectation
of an enjoyment the most delicious. When I had dressed myself, I
returned to Ernest to see if his work had advanced: presently I heard
his voice calling out, “Father, father, a fish! a fish of monstrous
size! Run quickly, father: I can hardly hold him; he is eating up
the string of my line!” I ran to the place from which the voice
proceeded, and found Ernest lying along the ground on his face, upon
the extremity of a point of land, and pulling in his line, to which
a large fish was hanging, and struggling to get loose. I ran hastily
and snatched the rod out of his hand, for I feared the weight and
activity of the fish might pull him into the water. I gave the line
length, to calm the fish, and then contrived to draw him gently
along into a shallow, from which he could no longer escape, and
thus he was effectually secured. We examined him thoroughly, and he
appeared to weigh not less than fifteen pounds; so that our capture
was magnificent, and would afford the greatest pleasure to our good
steward of provisions at Falcon’s Stream.
While Ernest went to the rocks and bathed, I had time to fill some
more bags with salt. We then harnessed and loaded our animals, and
resumed the road to Falcon’s Stream.
When we had proceeded about half way, Flora, who was before us,
suddenly sprang off, and by her barking gave notice that she scented
some game. We soon after saw her pursuing an animal which seemed
endeavouring to escape, and made the most extraordinary jumps
imaginable. The dog continued to follow; the creature, in trying
to avoid him, passed within gun-shot of the place where I stood. I
fired, but its flight was so rapid that I did not hit. Ernest, who
was at a small distant behind, hearing the report of my gun, prepared
his own, and fired it off at the instant the singular animal was
passing near him, seeking to hide itself among the tall herbage
just by: he had fired so skilfully that the animal fell dead at the
same instant. I ran with extreme curiosity to ascertain what kind
of quadruped it might be. It was as large as a sheep, with the tail
resembling that of a tiger; but its snout and hair were like those
of a mouse, and its teeth were like a hare’s, but much larger; the
fore-legs resembled those of the squirrel, and were extremely short;
but to make up for this, its hind-legs were as long as a pair of
stilts, and of a form strikingly singular. We examined the creature
a long time in silence. I could not be sure that I had ever seen an
engraving or description of it in any natural history, or book of
travels. Ernest at length, clapping his hands together, joyously
exclaimed, “And have I really killed this wonderful animal? What do
you think is its name, father? I would give all the world to know.”
_Father._--And so would I, my boy; but I am as ignorant as you. One
thing, however, is certain, that this is your lucky day. Let us again
examine this interesting stranger, that we may be certain to what
family of quadrupeds it belongs: this will perhaps throw a light upon
its name.
_Ernest._--I think it can hardly be named a quadruped; for the little
fore-legs look much more like hands, as is the case with monkeys.
_Father._--They are notwithstanding legs, I can assure you. Let us
look for its name among the animals who give suck: on this point we
cannot be mistaken. Now let us examine its teeth.
_Ernest._--Here are the four incisory teeth, like the squirrel.
_Father._--Thus we see that it belongs to the order of Nibblers. Now
let us look for some names of animals of this kind.
_Ernest._--Besides squirrels, I recollect only mice, marmots, hares,
beavers, porcupines, and jumpers.
_Father._--Jumpers! That short word furnishes the necessary clue;
the animal is completely formed like the jerboa, or jumping hare,
except that it is twice the size of those of which I have read a
description.... Wait a moment--an idea strikes me: I will wager that
our animal is one of the large jumpers, called kangaroos. To the best
of my knowledge, this animal has never been seen but on the coast of
New Holland, where it was first observed by the celebrated navigator,
Captain Cook. You may then be highly flattered with your adventure of
killing an animal at once so rare and so remarkable. But now let us
see how we shall manage to drag him to the sledge. Ernest requested
that I would rather assist him to carry it, as he was afraid of
spoiling its beautiful mouse-coloured skin by dragging it on the
ground. I therefore tied the fore-legs of the kangaroo together; and
by means of two canes, we, with considerable trouble, contrived to
carry it to the sledge, upon which it was securely fastened.
We at length arrived happily, though somewhat late, at Falcon’s
Stream, having heard from a great distance the salutations of our
family. We concluded the day with our ordinary occupations. I gave
some salt to each of our animals, to whom it was an acceptable
treat. We then skinned our kangaroo, and put it carefully aside
till the next day, when we intended to cut it to pieces, and
lay such parts in salt as we could not immediately consume. We
made an excellent supper on our little fish, to which we added
some vegetables; nor were our faithful companions Turk and Flora
neglected. The labours of the day had more than usually disposed us
all to seek repose; we therefore said our prayers at an early hour,
mounted our ladder, and were soon asleep.