92 EARLY RECORDS OF PORT PHILLIP. the two last gentlemen belong- to the colony — they found a fresh water river on the N.E. poind of the bay, where they pitched their tent for the night.^ A Private Eemark given me from Mr. Harris and Lieut. Tuckey of H.M. ship Calcutta. Sunday, 23. a.m. — At 8 they observd three of the natives, who ap- proach them. Mr. Tuckey gave them fish, bread, and many preseants ; they were much pleasd and friendly. At 10 Mr. T. and Mr. Collins went across the bay, about 5 or 6 miles, with a boats crew, leaving Mr. Harris and Mr. Gammon & 2 men to take care of the tent, and make observations on shore. The three men, seeing Mr. T. go away in the boat, they likewis went away. Early in the afternoon they returnd with a great many of them ; and at 2 p.m. they in the boat coming back observd 70 in a party. Mr. Tuckey called to them, at which they hastened to the place where the tent was. On Mr. T. coming up he found Mr, Gammon surrounded ; and the chief at that time seized Mr. G., who calld out to Mr. T. to fire on them. Mr. Harris was surrounded at the tent ; and the blacks were taking what they could from the boat. Mr. T. tird over them ; they ran away a small distance, but soon ap- proachd again with the king (who wore a very elegant turban-crown),^ and was always carried upon the shoulders of the men. Whenever he desired them to halt, or to approach, they did it immediately. Mr. T. fird over them a second time, at which they removed to a very small distance. Those about the king, to the number of 50 or 60 Avere all armed. The blacks finding that none were wounded, and that the number were approaching, and the second in command was going to throw his spier at Mr. Tuckey, gave orders to shoot him, as an example ; they fird, and Innis killed him, and another wounded ; they all fled. The number of savages were not less than one hundred and fifty. Had not Mr. Tuckey fortunately came up with the boat, no doubt but they would have killd Mr. Gammon and Mr. Harris and the 2 men, and have eat them. We have great reason to think they are canibals. Remarks at Sullivan Bay and Hobert Camp, Port Phillip, New South Wales, 1803. Sunday, 23. a.m. — At 11 the whole of the camp assembled, and the Governor at the head of the Eoyal Marines, with officers, to hear divine service, which was performd in the square of the parade before all ^ " On the eastern side of the port, twenty-eight miles from the entrance, a stream of fresh water empties itself into the port [^Cannanook ?'. This stream runs through an extensive swamp, and appears to be a branch from a large river at the northern extremity of the port, which the shortness of time and badness of the weather prevented our examining [in the boats]. The bed of this stream is covered with foliaceous mica, which our people at first conceived to be gold dust, and thence expected they had discovered an Elsaledorado." — [Tuckey, p. IGO.]
- In " The Life and Adventures of William Buckley " (published at Hobart Town in
1852), who was an absconder from Collins' party in 1803, and lived amongst the Port Phillip blacks for thirty-two years, these " head-bands," as he calls them, are spoken of, at page 72, as being much worn in his time, in the fabrication of which they took great pains.
