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56 Parra Parra, haring noticed the opening thereto on their return from the SaltWater Stream ; and after about an hour and quarter’s pull, they reached with great joy the basin at Melbourne, and were de lighted, in fact, half wild with exultation, at the beauty of the country. The velvet-like grass carpet, decked with flowers of most lively hues, most liberally spread over the land, the fresh water, the fine lowlands, and lovely knolls around the lagoons on the flat or swamps, the flocks, almost innumerable, of teal, ducks, geese, and swans and minor fowls, filled them with joy. They all with one voice agreed that they had arrived at the site of the new settlement, and resolved to have the vessel brought up if possible, the goods, stores, &c., landed, and the commencement of a town forthwith made. They took a stand upon what was subsequently called Batman’s Hill, and passed some hours there, and thereabout, enjoying the novel and extraordinary view before them. They were so pleased with the country that they made it night before they returned to the vessel, which was lying opposite to Williams Town (that now is) near the bar entrance to the Yarra Yarra River. Capt, Hunter having been diligently employed these two days with his crew sounding the way up, it took some time to provide poles and fix them on the various shoals in the stream, now marked by large buoys and strong beacons (but then markless) ; and all this accomplished, the vessel was, with much trouble got up to the so-called junction, and the next day, a fair wind drove the lucky “ Enterprise” up into the basin at Melbourne ; the Captain reporting three fathoms all the way up, and in one part of the basin seven and a half fathoms of water, viz., from the junction up, and into the basin. “No time was lost, although it was Sunday, in getting the vessel close to the bank, at the very spot now occupied by the old shed of the Custom’s department, and some timber had to be cut from the over hanging trees to allow the vessel to lie alongside the bank ; from a plank the people landed, and the horses, having been nearly six weeks aboard, were hoisted out and landed, very much to their satisfaction; the fine young green grass and flowering herbage appearing to gratify their palates, and their gambols evincing their delight at being released from ship board, with its unsteady evils and close confinement. There the Master and crew of the “ Enterprise” joined the adventurers in their undisguised joy at the success, that after several weeks’ arduous exertion, seemed likely to reward, aye, well reward, their joint labours.
