344 HISTORY OF 



met with no huts rcgularlyconstructed, it was 

 probably only a temporary one. 



Black and the white cockatoos, the. "beautiful 

 lilac-headed parroquet, and the bald-headed 

 mocking bird of Port Jackson, were seen, but 

 no marks of resident quadrupeds, rats excepted, 

 could be discovered. 



Beyond this island the bay was contracted in- 

 to a river, -of considerable width, but it appear- 

 ed so shoal, and so difficult of access, that Lieut 

 Flinders gave up all idea of pursuing it, particu- 

 larly as the winds were adverse: so he returned 

 on board, with the intention of visiting the ri- 

 ver near the Glass-House peaks, and there to lay 

 the sloop on shore, and procure a supply of water. 



The following day passed in endeavouring to 

 get into the river, which, from the pumice-stone 

 found on its shores, was called Pumice-Stone 

 River. And at sun-set they anchored within 

 two miles of its entrance. 



On the morning of Sunday the 21st, Lieut. 

 Flinders went in his boat to examine the river, 

 and its entrance. On nearing Point Skirmish, 

 several natives came down towards the boat un- 

 armed, and, by friendly offers of their girdles 

 and nets, would fain have pursuaded him to land; 

 but as he could not be satisfied they had not 

 some treacherous design, or whether their being 

 unarmed arose from any confidence they might 

 be inclined to place, he did not choose to 

 trust them, so proceeded in his examination of 

 the river. 



