Whaleboat Pt D’Entrecasteaux

On 20 April 1831 a group led by Lieutenant William Preston were exploring the South West Coast in a whale boat from HMS Sulphur. The boat began taking water and they ended up stranded and decided to march back to Augusta. They encountered an Aboriginal as they were setting off ‘...he appeared astonished when we made him understand that we came from sea through the breakers. I have no doubt they had been watching us land, as there were several fires close to us. After dressing him, giving him a stocking full of sugar, a little bread, and as much cloth as he chose to carry away...and giving him to understand that he was to go and bring the whole tribe... he departed, and we did not see him again.’