202 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



but their numbers foon banifhing their alarms,they 

 approached on the invitations of this European, 

 and immediately put on their head a cravat and 

 handkerchief which he gave them. They how* 

 ever appeared frightened at the fight of a knife, 

 the ufe of which the officer pointed out to them, 

 efpecially when he ihewed them the manner of 

 fharpening it ; and their fear was not difpelled till 

 he gave it them as a prefent. It was to no pur- 

 pofe that he prerTed them to approach the place 

 where we lay at anchor ; his entreaties were un- 

 availing: the lavages continued to follow the 

 fame path, which led away from our fhips. 



A boat had landed on the other fhore near a 

 fire, whence rofe a very thick fmoke. Here 

 were found eight natives, who all had their 

 ftioulders covered with a kangaroo's fkin, and 

 were warming themfelves under fhelter of four 

 iheds. Thefe favages took to flight as foon as 

 they perceived our people. 



An old woman loaded with provifions, which 

 Ihe was unwilling to abandon, was very quickly 

 overtaken by fome of our failors : fhehad juft re- 

 ceived a handkerchief with an air of fatisfaclion ; 

 but the fight of a knife, which they wiflicd alfo to 

 give her, frightened her to fuch a degree that fhe 

 threw herfelf upwards of fifteen meters from the 

 top of a very ficep acclivity, and fled over the 

 rocks, where, fhe almofl immediately difappeared. 



I know 



