174 ANCHORAGE AT DEPUCH ISLAND. 



Opposed Mr. Fitzmaurice's landing. He had a 

 strong impression that these northern people were 

 of gigantic stature ; and in the midst of the silent 

 and gaping interest with which he listened to Mr. 

 Fitzmaurice's account of his adventure, the words 

 " big fella" often escaped from his lips ; and he 

 appeared quite satisfied when assured that his 

 opinion was correct. 



The agility this native exhibited in spearing fish 

 was astonishing. In shallow water he would actually 

 course the fish till he got them within spearing 

 depth, when, although his prey darted past, he 

 struck it with the most surprising precision. The 

 quiet, splashless manner in which he ran through 

 the water was really singular. When his spear re- 

 quired new pointing, the sole of his foot was turned 

 up and the spear's head pared down upon it with a 

 knife. When the latter was not to be procured 

 the teeth were made use off ; and I may here re- 

 mark that the constant use which some savages 

 make of their teeth may have much to do in pro- 

 ducing the projecting jaw. It seems almost 

 evident to common sense that the constant employ- 

 ment of the teeth must have a material effect in 

 causinof a chanoe in the facial anofle. 



We found the anchorage at Depuch Island to form 

 a tolerable port, being protected from the north- 

 east by one of the group, distant about three miles, 

 from which a reef extends to the W. N. W., leaving 

 the mouth of the harbour exposed only between 



