72 VISIT FROM THC NATIVES. 



visible to the eastward for the space of one point 

 of the compass; yet its level character, and the 

 shoalness of the water, led alike to the opinion that 

 no such communication as supposed would be found 

 to exist. 



January 17. — Collecting materials for the chart 

 was the chief occupation of the day. Mr. Usborne 

 discovered a high water inlet in the south shore of 

 the bay, five miles east of Cape Villaret, having a 

 dry bank of sand before it at low water. 



While the party were on shore, they were 

 visited by six of the natives, a larger race of men 

 than those on the south coast, naked, with the excep- 

 tion of a grass mat round the waist, and the hair 

 straight and tied up behind, seemingly ignorant of 

 the use of the throwing stick, but carrying spears 

 ill-shapen and unbarbed. One of them had a 

 kiley, or bomerang, and each carried a rude hatchet 

 of stone. None of them had suffered the loss of 

 the front tooth, which, with some tribes, is a dis- 

 tinction of manhood. When asked by signs for 

 fresh water, of which our party saw no traces, they 

 pointed to the S.E. ; a circumstance which I record, 

 as it may possibly be of some service to future 

 explorers. As the boat was leaving, one of them, 

 supposing, I presume, that they were out of our 

 reach, and might therefore attack us with impunity, 

 threw a stone at the boat, which luckily did no 

 harm, though hurled with great dexterity and force. 

 Upon this, a pistol was discharged over their heads, 



