Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/315

detained the vessel until January. On the 4th, Bowen, the mate, had an encounter with natives. They were curious, and not unfriendly, until an old man seemed angrily to warn Bowen off. They had spears, a stone tomahawk, and a wommerah. When the old man brandished his spear, Bowen ordered a soldier to fire over the heads of the natives, and they vanished in an instant.

On the 5th Jan. the Lady Nelson was off the entrance to Port Phillip, and Murray endeavoured to enter the harbour, which all could see. Bowen was at the masthead. The excitement was great, and the rocks and breakers added an element of danger. Murray feared to run risk by approaching a lee shore under the circumstances. He hauled off, and as the morning of the 6th was hazy, and the sea was rough, he made for King's Island, and examined it as directed. He complained in his journal that he had never "in any country experienced such bad weather." On his return he thought he was approaching Cape Otway, and "perceived with surprise that it was Cape Schanck and Grant's Point instead." On the 31st he anchored again at Western Port.

On the 1st Feb. Bowen, with five men and fourteen days' provisions, started in the Lady Nelson's launch to do in a boat what had not been done in the brig. Bowen returned on the 4th Feb., having entered "a most noble sheet of water." He gave such an account of the place that Murray recorded in his log: "It would be unpardonable in me not to give this new harbour a strict overhaul." On the 15th Feb., under Bowen's pilotage, the Lady Nelson stood "up the port with all sail set." "I have named this harbour Port King in honour of the Governor, P. G. King, under whose orders I act."

On the 17th there was a friendly meeting with eighteen natives. Mr. Bowen and a boat's crew gave shirts to them. No signs were successful in inducing them to point out where fresh water could be found. "They only seemed intent on getting what our people had-even to the last shirt." As a sailor moved towards the boat a spear was thrown at him. A shot fired over the heads of the natives created some panic, and then a volley was poured among them. Some of them stopped to throw spears. A second