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The firstnuptial knot was tied at Sorrento, three days after the foregoing birth, viz., 28th November, the contracting parties being Richard Garratt, one of the convicts, and H a n n a h Harvey, a spinster, permitted to accompany the Expedition from England as a "free settler." She did not retain her freedom long, and it is not known h o w futurity dealt with the alliance. T h efirstwhite death was in the case of John Skilhorne, another free settler, on the ioth October. H e was a cutler by trade. Mr. Knopwood fell back upon many recreations to while away the dull times, though it cannot be denied that some of his fancies took a practically useful turn. S o m e poultry had been brought from H o m e , and the good-natured, fussy old chap took the notion of becoming a fowlbreeder. His diary for ioth December shows this entry:—"I set m y white hen on twenty-one egg this morn, but the experiment was not the success hoped for, as the ' twenty-one egg' only produced 'seven young chickings.' " "Skinning trees for their hides" preceded the flaying of sheep and cattle as a local industry, as it was resorted to in a small way even before the Batman-<r«/z?-Fawkner occupation of Melbourne. T h e latter event happened during the latter half of 1835, whereas, in the April of that year, bark-stripping was commenced at Western Port, and for the following information on the subject I a m indebted to the Captain Fermaner referred to in other chapters. There was in Launceston a mercantile firm known as Griffiths, Henty, and Connolly, and, fancying from the supposed character of the Australian Continent, that good marketable bark was obtainable on the mainland, they despatched a party of strippers with stores, drays, bullocks, and other etceteras, in the " Elizabeth," a 151-ton schooner (Hart, master), which was followed by the "Andromache," barque, Captain Jacks, to receive the cargo. Good anchorage was found near Settlement Point; and, having discharged the " Elizabeth," she was sent back to Launceston. Between Griffiths Point (called after the merchant of that name) and the Bass, the m e n went to work and found bark in abundance. T h e only annoyance was the Aborigines, w h o m a d e certain warlike manifestations; but the white fellows were wary, and some musket demonstrations indulged in kept the blacks in awe. O n e night, however, a determined attack was made. T h e barque was loaded, and all hands awaited the hourly-expected return of the schooner. About midnight a rush was m a d e and repulsed. T h e enemy's loss was never ascertained, but one white man, named James McLoughlin, received three spears in one of his arms. T h e m e n succeeded in defending themselves for a few hours, when the schooner arrived, and they got safe on board, and sailed away. In 1836 the "Elizabeth" returned with the barque " Norval," which loaded there. S o m e wild cattle were found, in capital condition, and the beef was declared to be first-rate. T h e wild herd was supposed to be the progeny of a few horned stock left behind by the Sydney Exploring Expedition in 1826. There were other indications found of the incipient colonization, for there was for a time some intention towards a permanent occupation of the country. About three miles from Settlement Point was discovered a large kiln of bricks; and the only fresh water obtainable at one time was the fluid accumulations in one of the excavations from which the clay for the brick-making was taken. There were also ruins of a brick wall, as if once intended for a barracks, a gaol, or a "tench," as a convict quarter was in the old times called. Portions of land showed traces of former cultivation, and it was in parts partially fenced, the enclosures n o w crumbling away. There was also an old forgotten burial-ground, with grave marks, and three or four rudely-sculptured, but n o w almost defaced tombstones. Hunter, subsequently the captain of Fawkner's historical schooner, the " Enterprise," was mate of the " Elizabeth," and Captain Fermaner was one of the crew. John Pascoe Fawkner (or more correctly, his party) did for the colony what Collap Coll Frewi is said to have done for England in the 6th century—grew thefirstwheat; whilst Batman (through his party) is credited with having put down thefirstpotatoes. Robert Marr was thefirstcarpenter; Evan Evans made thefirstpair of boots for Buckley, " the wild white m a n ;" and to Miss Batman's needlecraft is due thefirstlinen shirt put together, for she (one of Batman's seven daughters) fabricated a garment of that