286 AUSTRALIA CHAP, xn 



for bed-clothes, and grass pillows, but above all the entire 

 absence of mosquitos, made me and, I believe, all of us sleep 

 almost without intermission. Had the Indians come they 

 would certainly have caught us all napping ; but that was 

 the last thing we thought of. 



8th. The tide serving at daylight, we set out for the ship. 

 On our passage down we met several flocks of whistling 

 ducks, of which we shot some. We saw also an alligator 

 about seven feet long come out of the mangroves and crawl 

 into the water. By four o'clock we arrived at the ship. 



~LQtk. Four Indians appeared on the opposite shore; 

 they had with them a canoe made of wood with an out- 

 rigger, in which two of them embarked, and came towards 

 the ship, but stopped at the distance of a long musket shot, 

 talking much and very loud to us. We called to them, 

 and waving, made them all the signs we could to come 

 nearer. By degrees they ventured almost insensibly nearer 

 and nearer till they were quite alongside, often holding up 

 their lances as if to show us that if we used them ill they 

 had weapons and would return our attack. Cloth, nails, 

 paper, etc. etc., were given to them, all which they took 

 and put into the canoe without showing the least signs of 

 satisfaction. At last a small fish was by accident thrown 

 to them, on which they expressed the utmost joy imaginable, 

 and instantly putting off from the ship, made signs that 

 they would bring over their comrades, which they very soon 

 did, and all four landed near us, each carrying in his hand 

 two lances, and his stick to throw them with. Tupia went 

 towards them ; they stood all in a row in the attitude of 

 throwing their lances ; he made signs that they should lay 

 them down and come forward without them; this they 

 immediately did, and sat down upon the ground. We then 

 came up to them and made them presents of beads, cloth, etc., 

 which they took, and soon became very easy, only jealous 

 if any one attempted to go between them and their arms. 

 At dinner-time we made signs to them to come with us 

 and eat, but they refused ; we left them, and they going 

 into their canoe, paddled back to where they came from. 



