CHAPTER
LXVIII.
FLOTSAM, JETSAM, A N D LIGAN.
' H I L S T fishing in old waters I collected m y last cargo of old Port Phillipian miscellanies some of which were picked up too late to be included in the chapters with which they could have been incorporated, and others so peculiar that they could only be presented =pj to m y readers in a casual ward, such as I have constructed for their reception. The imperfect records of the Collins Convict Settlement at Sorrento in 1803, as contained in the orders issued by the Commandant, and the diary of the Chaplain, the Rev. R. Knopwood, disclose some events curious in themselves as being thefirstof the kind in Port Phillip. From these I collate a few interesting waifs. T h e first free emigrants to Port Phillip are comprised in the following list of persons who, according to Labiliere, " obtained Lord Hobart's permission to proceed to Port Phillip, 5th April, 1803, viz.:—Mr. Collins, seaman; Edward N e w m a n , ship carpenter; Mr. Hartley, seaman; Edwd. F. Hamilton, John J. Gravie, Mr. Pownall; a female servant; Thos. Collingwood, carpenter; D u k e Charman; John Skilhorne, cutler; Anty Fletcher, mason; T. R. Preston, pocketbook-maker." This contingent accompanied the batch of 307 convicts, the prison strength of the Collins Expedition. T h e wives and children of some of the convicts were also allowed to come out; and in this manner J. P. Fawkner, his sister and mother obtained free passages. Tuesday, 25th October, was celebrated in honour of the accession to the throne of George III. At 8 a.m. the British flag was hoisted at the camp, at noon the Royal Marines fired three volleys, and at 1 p.m. the "Calcutta" boomed forth with twenty-one guns. The first collision with the Aborigines is thus detailed as occurring, 23rd October, 1803. It happened with two boats' crews under Lieutenant Tuckey, engaged on a survey expedition from the north-west point of the Bay: " A t 8 they observed three natives approaching them. Mr. Tuckey gave them fish, bread, and many presents; they were m u c h pleased and friendly. At 10 Mr. T. and Mr. Collins went across the bay, and about 5 or 6 miles with a boat's crew, leaving Mr. Harris and Mr. G a m m o n and 2 m e n to take care of the tent, and make observations on shore. T h e three men, seeing M r . T. go away in the boat, they likewise went awav. Early in the afternoon they returned with a great many of them ; and at 2 P.M. they in the boat coming back observed 70 in a party. Mr. Tuckey called to them, at which they hastened to the place where the tent was. O n Mr. T. coming up he found Mr. G a m m o n surrounded ; and the chief at that time seized Mr. G , who called out to Mr. T. to fire on them. M r . Harris was surrounded at the tent ; and the blacks were takmg what they could from the boat. Mr. T. fired over them ; they ran away a small distance, but soon approached again with the king (who wore a very elegant turban-crown), and was always earned upon the shoulders of the men. Whenever he desired them to halt, or to approach, they did it immediately Mr. T. fired over them a second time, at which they removed to a very small distance. Ihose about the king, to the number of 50 or 6o, were all armed. T h e blacks finding that none were wounded, and that the number were approaching, and the second in command was going to throw his spear at Mr. Tuckey, gave orders to shoot him, as an example; they
