176 FIRST DISCOVERY OF PORT DAVEY, ETC. 



18lh January 1816 at. clay Light it being Low Water 

 there was a good Number of Seals' up on the Rocks" we 

 Stormed them, and Killed, twenty Which we Skined and 

 peged" out to Dry the Weather was Verry tine Wind from 

 the South East, this, day found the fresh Water on the 

 Island geting Short and Verry Brackish, Launched the 

 Boat and put our three Water Kegs into her to> get 

 the Natives" to fill them with fresh Water we also put 

 into the Boat twenty of the Seals" Carcases' to Barter 

 With the Natives for Kangaroo Skins, we also' took Six 

 young Seal pups alive as presents, Eearly in the morning 

 Signal Smokes' was made on the Beach for us to Come 

 over according to Promise" 



on arrive ing at the Beach We did not See a Native 

 Which Made us think there was something the Matter we 

 waited about half an hour When we saw Tolobunganah" 

 Make his appearance on the Beach" We Called to him to 

 Come to the Rock Where he had been the day previous" 

 he Came we asked him why he' did not Come to the Boat 

 when we first arrived he said that all the Natives' was in 

 the Bush" Hunting Kangaroo" and geting Skins but they 

 would be Here Shortly, we had still a Suspision that 

 Howe" was with the Natives but Tolo" assured n^ he was 

 not we told him we wanted our three Kegs' filled with 

 fresh Water and that we Would Buy all the Kangaroo 

 Skins he had ; in about twenty Minutes" the Whole tribe 

 Came down on the Beach there were about Two. Hundred 

 Men Women" and Children' and at Least fifty Dogs" on 

 seeing them ap roach we pulled the Boat out from the 

 Shore a Little Distance Leaving Tolo" on the Rock and got 

 oua' Arms'' and Examined them, to see that they were in 

 fireing order We held up 3 or 4 Seals Carcases" and told 

 them we Wanted to Barter for Kangaroo Skins Tolo" or- 

 dered Ten Women" to go into the Water Each Loaded 

 With Kangaroo" and Skins we then gave the Women the 

 Seals Carcases" we Brought over thev Carried them to the 

 Mob and Returned Immediately to the Boat With another 

 Load of Skins as Payment for the Seals'' we then Request- 

 ed Tolo" to fill our Kegs with fresh Water Which he Did 

 but we would not Let them take awav more than one Keg 

 at a time for fear they should not Bring them all Back at 

 Which Tolo" Seemed Displeased — 



The Natives asked if we Would Bring over more 

 Seals Tomorrow Briggs told them they were geting Scarce 

 and Shy of Being Caught Tolo" told Briggs We had Bet- 

 ter take Some Women over to the Island to assist in 

 Catching Seals" at Which they Were Verry Dexterous" 

 This Being agreed on Tolo'' ordered Six Stout Women to 



