NEW SOUTH WALES. 343 



turn up this, they sailed as soon as the ebb tide 

 slacked. On standing near the South part of the 

 shoal which seemed to surround the island that the 

 natives had retired to, one came down abreast 

 the sloop, making- gestures, and running back- 

 wards and forwards, but little attention was paid 

 him, Lieut. Flinders intending to get as far up, 

 the bay as possible while the tide served. At 

 midnight he anchored as the deep water now 

 became contracted to a narrow channel. 



The next day Lieut. Flinders landed on ait 

 island in his passage. Recent footsteps of dogs, 

 were numerous on the beach, but traces of men 

 but just visible: there were several fire-places, 

 and various other proofs of the island being vi- 

 sited. This island was three miles in circumfer- 

 ence. The central part of which was higher than 

 the skirts, and covered with fine mould. On the 

 S. E. side of the island it descended in a steep 

 bank, where the earth was as red as blood; and 

 6ome parts of it were as hard as rock. The 

 •trees on it weie large and luxuriant. On the 

 & W. and N. E. sides it was low and sandy, and 

 the palm nut-tree flourished here. These nuts 

 it was supposed formed the principal induce- 

 ment for the natives to visit this island ; parti- 

 cularly as there was abundant testimony under 

 the trees that they did not fall off and rot. They 

 found some boughs ranged to keep off the wind ; 

 and from the fire-places which they were to de- 

 fend, it was thought not less than five or six na- 

 tives had made this their residence, but as thev 



