CHANGEABLE WEATHER. 237 



coast line^ he had occasion to approach the native 

 villag-e before alluded to^ and observed the men 

 following- the boat along* the beach within g-unshot^ 

 sharpening* and poising- their spears^ violently 

 g-esticulating- and calling* out loudly^ as if daring* 

 him to land. A favourable opportunity was now 

 afforded for punishing- the natives for their treachery; 

 but from hig-hly commendable motives of humanity^ 

 no steps were taken for this purpose by Lieut. Day- 

 man^ and they were treated with silent contempt. 



July 10^/?.— The Bramble and two of our boats 

 were sent to ascertain whether an easy passag-e to 

 the westward existed in-shore near the isl-ands (the 

 Calvados Group) extending- in that direction^ while^ 

 at the same time, the ship stood to the southward 

 and anchored in 28 fathoms^ four miles inside the 

 barrier-reef. On our way we passed numerous small 

 coral patches, and others were afterwards found to 

 the westAvard, running- in irreg'ular lines, and 

 partially blocking- up the passag-e inside the barrier, 

 which it was expected would have been found clear. 

 We remained here for five days, during* \A'liich period 

 we had much variety of weather— sometimes blowing- 

 hard from E.S.E. to E.N.E. with squalls and thick 

 g-loomy weather — at other times nearly a calm, the 

 air disag-reeably close and mug-gy, the temperature 

 varying* from 75'' to 85^^, with occasional heavy 

 rain. 



Small fish appeared to abound at this anchorag-e. 

 I had never before seen the sucking*-fish [Echeneis 



