THE "BOYL-YAS." 81 



that such a river must ultimately be discovered, it 

 only narrowed the ground upon which energy, know- 

 ledge, and perseverance had yet to undergo their 

 probation, ere they enjoyed their reward ! 



Our intercourse with the natives had been neces- 

 sarily of the most limited character, hardly amount- 

 ing to anything beyond indulging them with the 

 sight of a new people, whose very existence, not- 

 withstanding the apathetic indifference with which 

 they regarded us, must have appeared a prodigy. 

 What tradition may serve to hand down the memory 

 of our visit to the third generation, should no newer 

 arrival correct its gathering errors, and again restore 

 some vestige of the truth, it is hardly possible to ima- 

 gine ; but should any misfortune follow their posses- 

 sion of Mr. Helpman's pistols, that in particular will 

 be narrated as the motive for the visit of those white 

 men who came flying upon the water, and left some 

 of the secret fire upon the peaceful coast : and 

 when again the white sails of the explorer glisten 

 in the distant horizon, all the imaginary terrors of 

 the " Boyl-yas,"* will be invoked to avert the coming 

 of those who bring with them the unspeakable bless- 

 ings of Christian civilization. 



* The natives in the neighbourhood of Swan River give this 

 name to their Sorcerers. 



VOL. I. G 



