SINGULAR CORROBORY. 251 



nessed a corrobory presenting a peculiar feature. 

 As soon as it was dark, a number of heaps of 

 fuel scattered here and there were simultaneously 

 ignited, and the whole surface of the green 

 was speedily lighted up by the flames. When the 

 illumination was complete, the men, painted with 

 spots and lines of white commenced the dance, 

 which consisted in running sideways or in file, 

 stamping with great violence, and emitting an in- 

 harmonious grunt, gesticulating violently all the 

 time, and brandishing and striking together their 

 weapons. The peculiar feature in this corro- 

 bory, was the throwing of the kiley, or boomerang, 

 lighted at one end ; the remarkable flight and ex- 

 traordinary convolutions of this weapon marked by 

 a bright line of fire, had a singular and startling 

 eflcct. 



As we were rounding Breaksea Spit, we met four 

 merchant ships, who gladly availed themselves of 

 our convoy. On the 6th, being anxious to repeat 

 our last meridian distance, and also the magnetic 

 observations, we anchored under Cape Upstart. 

 We likewise availed ourselves of the visit to complete 

 the examination of the bay on the east side of the 

 Cape. The 7th was a remarkably gloomy day, 

 signalized by a very unusual fall in the barometer 

 between 8 a.m., and 2 p.m., from 30'14 to 30*00, 

 when the breeze which had been fresh in the morn- 

 ing, increased to a gale with squalls. At 3, the 



