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Thomas Ruston, and he himself, were endeavouring to make the Isle of France in a boat, when Mr. Smith died, and the remaining two had eaten his body. Mr. Walker had, with the utmost imprudence, related this dream to some of the men, and they, with that superstition, which is so common amongst sailors, and Englishmen of the lower orders, had attached a great degree of importance to it; many circumstances which had hitherto been unexplained to me now flashed upon my mind; poor Mr. Smith had been very ill at the time Mr. Walker had related this inauspicious dream, and at that period an extraordinary degree of despondency had crept over him, so much so, that some of the men imagined he had become derangedwhen also we were working our way down the eastern coast of Sharks Bay, in the boats, others of the party had got into a very desponding state, one of whom, Henry Woods, had even gone so far, as to tell me, when I remonstrated with him on this point, that he knew that the greater part of us were doomed, and that our lives were worth nothing.

My anxiety for those I had left behind me now increased, and about an hour and a half before daylight, I started for Perth with Imbat, leaving the others to follow as rapidly as they could, and telling them that I would have food ready for them at Williams's cottage, who was the settler living farthest north from Perth. In about an hour and a half I reached Williams's hut-which I entered, and found his wife and another woman at breakfast.

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I had often got a drink of milk at this cottage, when I had before been at Perth, and I flattered myself that Mrs. Williams would recollect me; little calculating how strangely want and suffering had changed my appearance. The two women only stared with the utmost surprise, and said, Why, Magic, what's the matter with you?" (They alluded to a crazy Malay, who used to visit the outsettler's houses, and who had somehow or the other acquired the nick-name of Magic.)—I was rather hurt at my reception, and said, "I am not Magic;" at this they both burst into a roar of laughter, and Mrs. Williams said, Well, then, my good man, who are "One who is almost starved," was my you ?" reply. "Will you take this then," said my hostess, handing me a cup of tea she was raising to her lips. "With all my heart and soul, and God reward you for it," was my answer,—and I swallowed the delicious draught. Imbat, who had been to search for Williams, now came in, and explained who I was; in a few minutes more, I was seated at a comfortable breakfast; water was put on to boil, and by the time the things were prepared, the rest of the party came up.

I now washed, and made myself as clean as possible. I could obtain no conveyance to take us on to Perth, and therefore started to walk in with Imbat, leaving the others to complete their breakfast; but I soon found myself dreadfully ill, from having eaten too profusely; still I pushed on as well as I could, and in about an hour and a half,

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reached the house of my friend, L. Samson, Esq. He could not believe it was me whom he beheld, but having convinced himself of the fact, he made me swallow about a tea-spoonful of brandy, and, recruited by this, I was sufficiently recovered to wait upon His Excellency the Governor, in order to have immediate steps taken to send off a party in search of my missing comrades.

The Governor could scarcely credit his sight, when he beheld the miserable object that stood before him; but in this as in all other instances in which I have known him, the goodness of his heart shone conspicuous; not only was every kindness shewn me, but immediate steps were taken to forward assistance to those who were still in the bush. Haying thus far performed my duty, I retired to press a bed once more, having for nearly three consecutive months slept in the open air, on the ground, just at the spot where my day's hardship had terminated. So changed was I, that those of my friends, who had heard of my arrival and were coming to congratulate me, passed me in the street, whilst others to whom I went up, and held out my hand, drew back in horror, and said, "I beg your pardon, who are you?"

Ere I was in bed, the remainder of the men who were journeying with me arrived, and it had thus pleased Providence to conduct six of us, through great suffering and want, to the termination of our miseries.

CHARLES WOODS-SECOND PARTY IN SEARCH, UNDER MR. ROE-ARRIVAL OF MR. WALKER AT PERTH-NARRATIVE OF THEIR PROCEEDINGS

FROM WATER

PEAK-EXTREME

OF MR.

DISTRESS FROM HUNGER AND THIRST-DEATH
SMITH-TIMELY DISCOVERY OF THE REST BY MR. ROE
MR. ROE'S REPORT.

I ARRIVED at Perth on the 21st of April, and not a moment was lost in preparing a party to go in search of the men I had left with Mr. Walker, and who, it will be recollected, were instructed to proceed along the coast until they made the Moore River, where assistance was to be sent out to them from Perth. Accordingly, on the 23rd of April, Lieutenant Mortimer, of the 21st regiment, and Mr. Spofforth, with four soldiers, left Perth, and arrived on the Moore River in two days; but after traversing its banks in vain for two days more, they abandoned all hope of finding those they were in search of there, and pursued a straight course about 25 miles further north, when they

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fell in with another river, where they formed a depot, and detours were made in various directions for several days without any avail. At length, on one of these excursions, the seaman, Charles Woods, one of my party, was found by Mr. Spofforth, lying on the beach, wrapped in his blanket, and fast asleep. He soon awoke, and was not a little delighted to recognise Mr. Spofforth, whom he had seen before at Freemantle. By the account Woods gave, it appears that from the period of my departure much disorder and discontent at the direction of their course prevailed among the men. They frequently left the beach and wandered inland to procure water and food, not sufficiently exerting themselves to advance southward. They had succeeded, he said, in procuring upon the whole about a dozen birds, a crab, and eighteen fish. On the 21st of April, Mr. Walker, who had frequently exerted himself in procuring firewood and water for the weaker of the party, divided two dough cakes still remaining in his possession among them all. They were then upon the beach, and though still at a great distance from the appointed place of rendezvous, the men were very unwilling to distress themselves to reach it, being persuaded they should be tracked, wherever they might be, by the natives whom I should send to their help. Woods being dissatisfied with their slow progress, now quitted them at a place where, he says, they had to go round two very deep bays close together, which took him a whole day;