STATEMENT OF DR. VALLACK. 247 



by the leadsman^ 2, 2^, 2, 3 fathoms^ until after 

 some time we g"ot into deeper water^ and passed out 

 of the Bay in safety. Not a fire had been seen on 

 the shore all nig'ht^ nor was there a native to be 

 seen this morning- from the vessel. We passed 

 numerous islands^ until the Piper Islands came in 

 sig'ht. We calculated upon making- them for our 

 anchorag'e^ but a squall came on^ and the wind 

 shifted^ and we were compelled to anchor at half- 

 past seven p.m.^ in fifteen fathoms water, near a reef. 

 Some native fires were seen on the coast to-day. 

 I find the native on board understands and speaks 

 the same lang-uag-e as the Port Albany blacks^ and 

 repeats all their names to me. He eats and drinks 

 heartily^ and lends apparent^ a most willing- hand 

 towards securing- himself with the leather straps. 



Dec. 2d.— Left our anchorag-e at daylig-ht in the 

 morning-; passed between the Piper Islands and 

 Bald Head. When off Fair Cape saw a smoke on 

 the shore^ and three natives, who immediately 

 disappeared in the scrub and were seen no more. 

 On rounding- the Cape it became a dead calm, and 

 it was intensely hot ; we saw a smoke and a larg-e 

 fire ahead of us. Jacke}^ recog-nised the land, and 

 said the smoke was -at the mouth of a river which 

 Mr. K. and he had crossed after leaving- the camp. 

 The land where the camp and eig'ht men were Jackey 

 pointed out ahead of us, opposite to Weymouth 

 Bay ; a heavy squall and thunder storm with rain 

 came on very suddeidy, and beyond the mouth of 



