Saturday 8 October 1836

7 p.m. Saturday, 8th October.
The wind having moderated a boat was sent off for the women – they had caught no game as they and the dogs were too hungry to hunt – a few roots were the only food they had had. After breakfast Claughton, Jacob, Pullen and myself landed with our guns and went up the banks of the river in search of wild fowl with which it was actually swarming but they were so wild and wary that we were very unsuccessful only having killed between  us a duck and brace of teal. There are several lagoons, or what we should call marshes in England, in the neighbourhood of the river, in these wild fowl resort to breed and this is apparently breeding-season as we picked up a cygnet and young duck neither of them fledged. On our return we shot a brace of quails and a beautiful rail resembling our landrail in all but plumage which was much finer. We likewise saw two bitterns but could not get near them and the black swans, which abound wherever there is fresh water and whose flight me be found a good guide, were equally watchful. Near the mouth of the river are to be seen a great variety of sea-gulls, one of which, called the mackerel gull, is a very delicate looking bird. Divers, Cormorants and Awks similar to those on our coasts are likewise numerous but not fit to eat. We returned on board to dinner at 3 p.m. and found all in “status Quo”. The weather is much finer.