NEW SOUTH WALES. 355 



He soon made an exchange of the yarn belt 

 from his waist, for a fillet of kangaroo hair. 

 The muskets were kept at hand in the boat 

 to guard against any treachery ; every thing- 

 seeming to go on well, the natives appearing ra- 

 ther shy than otherwise, Lieut Flinders joined 

 his companion, taking his gun with him. By 

 making friendly signs, laying down the gun, 

 and offering a woollen cap, he was suffered to 

 approach, and one took the cap; but when Lieut. 

 Flinders made him understand he expected his 

 net bag in return, he let him know he must first 

 give him his hat. This hat, made of white fila- 

 ments of the cabbage- tree, seemed to excite the 

 attention of the whole party. 



As the hat was not given to the native, he 

 came forward, first throwing the cap on the bank 

 behind him, to secure it, and seemed very 

 anxious for the hat or gun, if not both. Every 

 tiling was, however, still carried on very ami- 

 cably ; and Lieut. Flinders, with Bong-ree, made 

 slowly towards the boat, but turned again, as 

 he found they pressed too close after them. 

 One native laughing, and talking as well as he 

 could to Lieut. Flinders, tried to take his hat 

 with a hooked stick, which, on being discovered 

 caused a laugh. Behind another was stretching 

 his arm to the same object, but fear prevented 

 his coming near enough to reach it. 



When our people got into the boat, and shoved 

 her into deep water, they were not pleased, but 

 tried to induce them to land again. Finding 

 this not succed, one threw his piece of fire-wood 



