December 23rd, 1840.
This morning the rude Frenchman again refused to move, claiming the wind was against us, but as soon as we were out of the bay we made at least five miles an hour. By the way, we sailed so far from land that we didn't recognize Budlo again and only when we were long past did we realize where we were and hoped to get home that day. Dr. Harvey slept most of the day and did not come out onto the foredeck until we had rounded Bolingbroke Point, which he long thought was Tumby Island. As we sailed into the bay we heard a cannon fired in our honor and an hour or two before evening we went ashore. I was prepared for many inconveniences, but I did not believe that they would be of the kind ( 062 ) that I found. It was said that we had perished because of our long absence; During my absence the police and others had gone to Coffin Bay to arrest the murderers of Franz Hawson, and I was chosen as interpreter; Furthermore, a woman had lost a child here, which, according to general opinion, the natives had taken, and my assistance was also wanted in this regard. Finally a ship had arrived, but had brought me no letters. The woman whose child was lost asked me to go to the interior and look for the child, which I promised to do to her satisfaction, but at the same time told her my opinion that I did not hope to find it among the natives.

December 24th, 1840.
Rush(094), the father of the lost child, came to me with the news that there was a fire at the head of the bay and asked me to go with him. I went on horseback for the first time, and who did we find when we got there?

( 063 ) Punalta with two other men, Ngarka* and Tunba*. Tunba and Punalta went with us while the other returned. We slept at the Nondu River(095) and went into the city early the next morning. A hot north wind was blowing again, which the natives say is favorable for possum hunting, so I let them both go out with Gottfried. Tunba and Gottfried came back, but Punalta stayed behind because of bad feet and would come later. But he didn't come and after a while Tunba also left again.

The following week, as I was about to go out with Mr. White, four young natives came to me, one of whom stayed for several days, namely until the New Year.