42 THK EARLY HISTORY OF MARIA ISLAND, 



cable was eventually cut, and the anchor left behind. At 

 nine the next night the boat was off Tasman's Head, and 

 on the night of the 7th they worked to windward, and 

 imagined they were working intO' Adventure Bay, where 

 it was proposed to secure wood, and complete taking in 

 water. When day dawned, however, they found that 

 they were farther north than they imagined, and "were 

 among the Maria Islands." At 8 a.m. Cox set out in 

 one of tlie small boats, and examined the shore to the 

 South West in search of fresh water, but he did not 

 meet with any more success than Marion had. Later he 

 examined Maria Island, and landed in a deep bay, with 

 a fine sandy beach. Cox named this Oyster Bay. He 

 found a small stream of water, and plenty of good wood 

 in the south east corner of the bay, which is situated 

 between the North and South portions of the island, 

 a low sandy neck being the only connecting link at this 

 place. The brig was signalled to, and came to anchor in 

 the bay at 3 p.m. on the 8th of July, 1789. The crew 

 were immediately sent on shore to procure wood and 

 water. They found traces of human inhabitants, as the 

 trees were hollowed out by fire, and great quantities of 

 shells heaped about them. They also noticed roughly 

 constructed huts of bark. 



On the 9th smoke was seen on the opposite side of the 

 bay, and an attempt was made to interview the natives. 

 The third mate approached them, alone and unarmed, and 

 although he made every sign of friendship his fancy could 

 suggest, they only mimicked his actions exactly, and 

 laughed lieartily, but would not stay. As fast as he ad- 

 vanced they withdrew, and were soon lost in the bush. 

 On the morning of July 10th, the natives were again seen, 

 several standing about a fire, while others were walking 

 in the bush with spears and lighted pieces of wood in 

 their hands. They allowed the seamen to approach, but 

 seemed very timid, although they accepted gifts of bis- 

 cuits, penknives, etc. This party consisted of 14 or 15 

 men or women, who were all entirely naked "except one 

 "man, who had a necklace of small shells, and some of the 

 "women, who had a kind of cloak or bag thrown over 

 "their shoulders." Several were observed to be scarred, 

 and their bodies daubed with reddish earth <^°). Mortimer 

 svims the natives up thus: — "Upon the whole they seemed 

 "to us to be a timorous, harmless race of people, and 

 "affoi^d a fine picture of human nature in its most 

 "inide and uncultivated state." 



(10) There is a large outcrop of reddish earth at Bloodstone Point 

 to the north of_ Long Pt.. to the N.W. of Oyster Bay. which misht have 

 served the natives of this locality for the usual red ochre with which 

 the aboriginals were so fond of decoTatin2 themselves. 



