NEW SOUTH WALES. 337 



another native had his arm broke by the second 

 shot. 



This wanton attack, which obliged the party 

 to fire on these people, in order to maintain 

 that superiority which they esteemed it requi- 

 site to assert, Lieut. Flinders thought might 

 be the means of preventing future mischief, by 

 giving them an extensive idea of his power, and 

 thus deter them from any future attempt in his 

 intercourse with them. For as he had to exa- 

 mine this bay, and the leak was to be stopped, 

 it became probable they would often meet; and 

 he was satisfied of the great influence which 

 the awe of a superior power has on savages, to 

 create respect. 



With this view he fired at a man among the 

 trees, who being above two hundred yards off, 

 certainly esteemed himself safe. One of the 

 balls grazed the bank in a line for him, but if 

 it took effe6t, it could not be seen. They then 

 landed to bring away the nets, which it was sup- 

 posed the natives in their flight had forgot to 

 take with them. On viewing the bank to 

 ascertain the position of the natives, he saw se- 

 veral running various ways among the trees, 

 with an apparent design of coming round on 

 them ; and, not knowing their force or numbers, 

 Lieut. Flinders ordered the native and a man 

 who had landed to return to the boats, as no 

 nets were left as expected. 



The low sandy point where this business hap- 

 pened, obtained for it the name <rf Point Skir- 



x x 



