172 HOSTILITY OF THE NATIVES. 



of improvement. And wherever we discern the 

 faintest indication that such a principle is at work, 

 there we may securely hope that development will 

 ultimately take place. Until we find a nation which 

 has never attempted to emerge from the circle of 

 its mere animal wants — which has never exhibited 

 the least inclination to develope the most ordinary 

 arts — which not only rejects clothing, but is abso- 

 lutely indifferent to ornament — which leaves its 

 weapons uncarved, its skin unpainted, free from 

 tattoo, we must not despair of the general efficacy 

 of civilization. These savages of Australia, as we 

 call them, who have adorned the rocks of Depuch 

 Island with their drawings, have in one thing 

 proved themselves superior to the Egyptian and the 

 Etruscan, whose works have elicited so much admi- 

 ration and afforded food to so many speculations — 

 namely, there is not in them to be observed the 

 slightest trace of indecency. 



During our stay we did not see any of the 

 natives on the island ; but on the main several of 

 them were observed, though they would not allow 

 us to communicate, moving off as soon as any 

 attempt was made to get near them in the boats. 

 On one occasion, when Mr. Fitzmaurice, in 

 a whale boat, was examining a part of the coast 

 to the eastward of Depuch Island, he entered a 

 creek, which soon, however, became too confined by 

 the mud-banks for them to use the oars. While in 

 this position a shout attracted his attention, and he 



