1825.] 
which we signified shouldbe given them 
if they came to the settlement ; by 
these means we drew them near the 
fort; but nothing could induce them to 
come beyond the line of the huts, or 
into the cleared ground. : 
We found one evening that they had 
stolen three hatchets ; but as it was de- 
sirable to establish a friendly inter- 
course with them, if possible, no notice 
was taken of this theft; and three ad- 
ditional hatchets were given them, at 
which they seemed highly pleased, re- 
tired quietly into the wood, and made 
their fires about half a mile from us. 
Two days after this, they surprised 
two of our men, and took an axe and a 
reaping hook from them ; our sentinels 
and others being near, they were made 
to understand, that they would not be 
allowed to. plunder in that manner ; the, 
reaping hook was returned; but he that 
had the axe darted into the wood, with 
such amazing speed, that to attempt 
catching him was out of the question ; 
and as it was resolved not to come to 
extremities with them, he was not fired 
at. 
However, their depredations became 
so frequent, that it was decmed highly 
necessary to put astop to them ; and 
when, on their next visit, they made 
the usual signs and vociferations for 
axes, they were made to understand 
that none would be given.them; and 
signs were also made for them to go 
away, and to shew them we were 
not pleased with their conduct. They 
complied with this intimation; but it 
was fully evident from their brandished 
spears, and their exercising themselves 
in throwing their waddys, that they were 
also dissatisfied, and probably meditated 
mischief. 
We saw nothing more of them until 
the 30th, on which day our boat at the 
watering-place was surprised by a party 
of twenty or thirty natives, armed with 
spears and waddys. Another party, 
at the same moment, surrounded a 
cottage in a garden, which was made 
by the officers, at a little distance from 
the watering-place ; and in which, at 
that time, were only one of the young 
gentlemen, and a corporal of marines. 
They endeavoured to make a retreat to 
the boat; but this the natives seemed 
inclined to prevent. Finding their situa- 
tion critical, and the savages preparing 
to throw their spears, the corporal fired 
over their heads; on which they all 
dropped on the knee, but were up again 
ina moment. He loaded and fired re- 
-Poyage to Australia, §c. 
221 
peatedly ; and they dropped on every 
discharge, as before—whick gave him 
an opportunity of making his escape : 
he continued to fire as he ran, until he 
and the young gentleman reached the 
boat; when a shower of spears was 
thrown. Some ‘of them struck the 
boat; and one,-a barbed spear, grazed 
the midshipman’s neck. Fearing some 
mischief might ensue, the corporal 
thought it most prudent to prove to 
them our superiority, as it might pre- 
vent a greater effusion cf blood.: He 
selected their chief for punishment, and 
fired directly at him. He fell, and: was. 
supposed to -be severely wounded, if 
not killed out right ; and either crawled. 
off, or was carried away by his com- 
panions, 
Hitherto they did not appear to 
heed our musquetry; for as none of 
them, up to this day, were hurt by it, 
they had no idea of its destructive 
power. 
About the same hour, an attack was 
made by another and more numerous 
party, on our people who were em- 
ployed outside the cleared ground, near 
the settlement, at whom they threw a 
great number of spears, but without 
doing any material injury. But, on a 
few muskets being fired at them, they 
retreated into the woods, and we saw 
no more of them in the vicinity of the 
watering-place or fort; and the circum- 
stance of their keeping away altogether 
convinced us that some of them must 
have felt the effects of our shots. 
As the rainy season was expected to 
commence in those latitudes about the, 
latter end of the present or early part 
of the next month, all the out-parties 
(except those employed in surveying) 
were called in, and set to work on the 
fort, and in building a magazine, land- 
ing the commissariat stofes and pro- 
visions, finishing the huts for those 
that were to remain on the island, and 
for the general security and comfort of 
the whole. 
(To be continued. ) 
—= 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
Extracts from a Journey to the 
Minerat Srrincs of Mount Cau- 
casus, and along the Rivrr Kusan 
to Kertcu, on the Sua of Azov. By 
a Russian Officer. 
HE mountains forming the chain 
of Caucasus may be divided into 
four classes or regions; the first is 
covered with green, and ornamented 
with various trees; the second, rising 
from 
