CHANGEABLE WEATHER. 287 



coast Kne, he had occasion to approach the native 

 village before alluded to, and observed the men 

 following- the boat along the beach within gunshot, 

 sharpening and poising their spears, violently 

 gesticulating and calling out loudly, as if daring 

 him to land. A favourable opportunity was now 

 afforded for punishing the natives for their treachery j 

 but from highly commendable motives of humanity, 

 no steps were taken for this purpose by Lieut. Day- 

 man, and they were treated with silent contempt. 



July 10th. — The Bramble and two of our boats 

 were sent to ascertain whether an easy passage to 

 the westward existed in-shore near the islands (the 

 Calvados Group) extending in that direction, while, 

 at the same time, the ship stood to the southward 

 and anchored in 28 fathoms, four miles inside the 

 barrier-reef. On our way we passed numerous small 

 coral patches, and others were afterwards found to 

 the westward, running in irregular lines, and 

 partially blocking up the passage inside the barrier, 

 which it was expected would have been found clear. 

 We remained here for five days, during which period 

 we had much variety of weather— sometimes blowing- 

 hard from E.S.E. to E.N.E. with squalls and thick 

 gloomy weather — at other times nearly a calm, the 

 air disagreeably close and muggy, the temperature 

 varying from 75° to 86°, with occasional heavy 

 rain. 



Small fish appeared to abound at this anchorage. 

 I had never before seen the sucking-fish (Echeneis 



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