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duck on the wing, and found that it had a nest with ten eggs. As it was not mortally wounded, I brought duck and eggs with me, and have her now sitting in a cage.
2nd.—A day of high wind, from N.E., with occasional heavy showers of rain, faint thunder and lightning; yet my little team ploughed from breakfast till dinner-time one third of an acre.
Do you recollect my having mentioned, some time ago, the murder of an outsettler on the Canning River by the natives? One of these, called Ya-gan, identified (on oath by a boy who escaped) as the principal actor, who took the spears from his companions and deliberately drove them one by one into the deceased (who had become entangled in a hedge while trying to escape), has been taken. The Government offered a reward for the apprehension of this Ya-gan, and some days ago he and two others, almost equally concerned, were seized by two boatmen, and brought to Perth: they had been fishing, and were enticed into the boat and there secured; they have been sent to Carnac, where they are to suffer solitary confinement and be taught our language. One of them escaped by swiming and diving across the river, where it is fully a mile in breadth.
4th.—Walked to Perth, where I found Captain Irwin; went with him to survey the canal and intended plans for deepening a passage, to avoid the flats in the river; in the shallows I caught two mullets with my hands.
About this day two years we came to the colony.—What a change now! It looks like a settled country: rural sights and sounds every where; houses, crops, flocks, herds, fences; cows lowing, dogs barking, cocks crowing, and geese cackling.
I have added to my stock, having just purchased nineteen ewes, at 50s. per pair; the breed is the compound produce of Leicester and Merino and Van Diemen's Land; and five ewe lambs at 35s. I have now fifty-nine sheep, which cost me £121.
