312 NEi^ELY QUAEREL WITH THEM. 



the consequence was that the performers were not 

 rewarded^ and naturally imagined that we had 

 broken faith with them. The discontent increased^ 

 some of the men left in a state of great excitement^ 

 and went for their spears and throwing* sticks. One 

 or two rockets were sent up soon after to amuse 

 them^ on which the few remaining* women and 

 children hurried to their sheds of bark and hid their 

 faces in terror. When a blue light was burned^ and 

 lit up the gloomy shadows of the neighbouring 

 busily it disclosed the spectral figures of many 

 armed men among the trees^ singly and in groups^ 

 intently watching our motions. Paida^ who Avith 

 other native allies of ours still remained with us_, 

 was very urgent for us to be oft^ telling me that 

 spears would be thrown immediately (kaihii haJaha 

 iniiro) ; being a hotaig of mine^ he considered him- 

 self bound to attend to my safety^ so conducted me 

 to the boat which he assisted in shoving off; nor did 

 he retire from the beach until we had got into deep 

 water. 



I have alluded to this occurrence^ trivial as it 

 may appear^ not without an object. It serves as 

 an illustration of the policy of respecting the known 

 customs of the Australian race^ even in apparently 

 ^rifling matters^ at least during the early period of 

 intercourse Avith a tribe^ and shews how a little 

 want of judgment in the director of our party caused 

 the most friendlv intentions to be misconstrued, and 

 might have led to fatal results. I must confess 



