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23 his former bush companion, the surveyor Meehan. That gentleman had been with Mr. Grimes in the examination of Port Phillip Bay in 1803. He explained then to Hume the difference between the two to be simply this,—Western Port contained two large islands, Port Phillip none. Hume saw no land dotting the bosom of the great inland sea before him, and was convinced that it could be only Port Phillip. However, their squabbling gave way to the consideration of returning home. There remained of their provisions 150 lbs. of flour, 6 lbs. of tea, no sugar and no salt. Crossing the Arndell, now the Werribee, they came upon their old track, and with a little deviation to the west ward they rapidly progressed to the Murray, and regained their New South Wales homes. The governor acknowledged their services by a grant to each of 1200 acres of land. SETTLEMENT OF WESTERN PORT. Although excellent soil had been discovered, almost boundless plains for pasture, yet the difficult approach, from scrub and rocks, forbade the hope of conducting the flocks of New South Wales across thence. We know that the two explorers might have avoided the difficulties of their route by going more to the westward, and keeping out of the fearful Alpine country. Still the good Geelong land was worth looking after, and might be reached by sea though not overland. The report of Captain Hovell received, most favor from the governor, and a settlement was resolved upon, of course, at the supposed Western Port. At this period most romantic visions of beauty and fertility were associated with Western Port. A Hobart Town paper of May 20th, 1826, speaks of it as “ a country the finest ever seen.” It reported that “large farms might be cultivated;”—that “fresh water lagoons lie scattered on the enviable expanse.” It was also rumoured that there existed a valuable river—and “ The mouth of this river is about thirty miles wide.” This colony was indeed the land of enigmas. Parts clothed with verdure were found beds of sand. Districts flowing with milk and honey were discovered to be pestif erous swamps, or waterless wastes. Rivers with mouths thirty miles wide, sites for farms, and an enviable expanse disappear on approach, like the delusive mirage. On the other hand, the blighted land, the desert realm, the abandoned, because worthless site, are converted, as it were by the magician’s wand, into savannahs of luxuriance, parks of loveliness, and scenes of romantic beauty. First appearances are
