CH. v.] EMBARK IN THE BOATS. 221 



May 30. — This morning we launched the boats, and one of 

 them, which had never floated before, was called by the men 

 "The Discovery." I therefore named the other "The Resolu- 

 tion," telling them that they had now the names of Captain 

 Cook's two ships for our river navigating vessels. Most of the 

 loads were also arrano;ed to-dav for embarkation, including 

 three months' rations: three months supplies were also left for 

 the garrison, besides a store of one month for the whole party, 

 to serve for the journey home. This day our Vulcan presented 

 me with a good blade, forged on the Darling and tempered 

 in its waters. We were fortunate in our blacksmith, for he 

 also made some good pikes or spear-heads, which he mounted 

 on long poles, to be carried in the boats. 



May 31. — The same natives with an old man, and a very 

 wild looking young one, covered with red ochre, " total 

 gules," came to their tree, and I went to them. I gave the 

 old man a spike-nail sharpened, but he asked for a toma- 

 hawk, and I then gave him one. This last gift only made 

 our visitors more importunate ; but I at length left them, to 

 attend to more important matters. Soon after, the man to 

 whom I first gave a tomahawk, beckoned me to come to him 

 again, and I went up with my rifle, demanding what more 

 he wanted ; whereupon he only laughed, and soon after 

 pulled my handkerchief from my pocket. I restored it to its 

 place in a manner that shewed I disliked the freedom 

 taken with it. I then sent a ball into a tree a good way off, 

 which seemed to surprise them ; and having made them un- 

 derstand that such a ball would easily pierce through six 

 black fellows, I snapped my fingers at one of their spears, 

 and hastened to the camp. I considered these hints the more 

 necessary, as the natives seemed to think us very simple 

 fools, who were ready to part with every thing. Thus en- 

 lig-htened as to the eSect of our fire-arms, these thankless 

 beggars disappeared ; although several gins and some men 

 still sat on the opposite bank, observing our boats. 



June 1. — Every thing being ready, I embarked with Mr. 



