1777- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 181 



the use of fish-hooks, if we might judge from their 

 manner of looking at some of our's which we shewed 

 to them. 



We cannot, however, suppose it to be possible that 

 a people who inhabit a sea-coast, and who seem to 

 derive no part of their sustenance from the produc- 

 tionf; of the ground, should not be acquainted with 

 some mode of catching fish, although we did not 

 happen to see any of them thus employed; nor 

 observe any canoe or vessel, in which they could go 

 upon the water. Though they absolutely rejected the 

 sort of fish that we offered to them, it was evident 

 that shell-fish, at least, made a part of their food, 

 from the many heaps of muscle-shells we saw in dif- 

 ferent parts near the shore, and about some deserted 

 habitations near the head of the bay. These were 

 little sheds or hovels built of sticks, and covered with 

 bark. We could also perceive evident signs of their 

 sometimes taking up their abode in the trunks of 

 large trees, which had been hollowed out by fire, 

 most probably for this very purpose. In or near all 

 these habitations, and wherever there was a heap of 

 shells, there remained the marks of fire; an indubit- 

 able proof that they do not eat their food raw. 



After staying about an hour with the wooding 

 party and the natives, as 1 could now be pretty con- 

 fident that the latter were not likely to give the former 

 any disturbance, I left them, and went over to the 

 grass-cutters on the east point of the bay, and found 

 that they had met with a fine patch. Having seen 

 the boats loaded, I left that party, and returned on 

 board to dinner; where, some time after, Lieutenant 

 King arrived. 



From him I learnt, that I had but just left the 

 shore, when several women and children made their 

 appearance, and were introduced to him by some of 

 the men who attended them. He gave presents to 

 all of them, of such trifles as he had about him. 

 These females wore a kangooroo skin (in the same 



n 3 



