whole of the remaining Aborigines of Van Diemens Land, now a mere handful of people, seated on the ground, listening with much attention to the truths of the gospel, however little they might be able to understand what was said, and conducting themselves with equal gravity in the times of silence.
9th. Several of the Aborigines were out hunting: they obtained little but a Tasmanian Porcupine. The Wallaby and Brush Kangaroo are become scarce on Flinders Island, in consequence of the improvidence of the people in killing all they can, when they have opportunity, and often more than their wants require. Snakes are common on these islands. Three kinds have come under our notice—the large black species, the one with red sides, Coluber porphyryaceus, and a smaller species called here, the Diamond Snake—all of which are dangerously venomous. Some large ticks were sticking to the sides of one of the red snakes.
10th. We dined with the Catechist, who has taken considerable pains to instruct the Aborigines, and to acquire their language: he has translated the first three chapters of Genesis into one of their dialects.—Finding that the cutter must proceed to Launceston for supplies, we concluded to accompany it, and sailed this evening.
11th. After a fine voyage, we entered the Tamar early, the eastern headland of which is rendered much more distinguishable by a newly-erected lighthouse. On bringing up at George Town, we found the inhabitants in great alarm: they had been keeping guard all night, in consequence of a party of bush-rangers having entered one of their houses, the preceding evening, and robbed it, after binding the master. Circumstances of this kind are of rare occurrence at the present day.
12th. We had a pleasant sail, with the help of the tide, to near Launceston, where we arrived in the course of the day, and met with warm greetings from our acquaintance.
