g8 AVOYAGETO 



'777- of that party, not knowing that they had paid us fo friendly 

 I.; , ' / a vifir, nor what their intent might be, fired a mulquet m 



the air, which fent them otr with the greatell precipita- 

 tion. 



Thus ended our firft interview with the natives. Imme- 

 diately after their final retreat, judging that their fears 

 would prevent their remaining near enough to obferve what 

 was pairing, I ordered the two pigs, being a boar and fow, 

 to be carried about a mile within the woods, at the head of 

 the bay. I faw them left there, by the fide of a frefii-water 

 brook. A young bull and a cow, and fome fheep and goats, 

 were alfo, at firfl:, intended to have been left by me, as an 

 additional prefent to Van Diemen's Land. But I foon laid 

 afide all thought of this, from a perfuafion that the natives^ 

 incapable of entering into my views of improving their 

 country, would defiroy them. If ever they fliould meet 

 with the pigs, I have no doubt this will be their fate. But 

 as that race of animals foon becomes wild, and is fond of 

 the thickeil cover of the woods, there is great probability 

 of their being preferved. An open place muil have been 

 chofen for the accommodation of the other cattle ; and in 

 fuch a fituation, they could not polfibly have remained con- 

 cealed many days. 



Wednef. 29. The moming of the 29th was uflier^d in with a dead 

 calm, which continued all day, and effectually prevented 

 our failing. I therefore fent a party over to the Eaft point 

 of the bay to cut grafs; having been informed that fome of 

 a fuperior quality grew there. Another party, to cut wood, 

 was ordered to go to the ufual place, and I accompanied them 

 myfelf. We had obferved feveral of the natives, this morn- 

 ing, fauntering along the fliore, which affured us, that 

 7 though 



