312 NKARLY QUARREL WITH THEM. 



the consequence was that the performers were not 

 rewarded, and naturally imagined that we had 

 broken faith with them. The discontent increased, 

 some of the men left in a state of great excitement, 

 and went for their spears and throwing' sticks. One 

 or two rockets were sent up soon after to amuse 

 them, on which the few remaining' women and 

 children hurried to their sheds of bark and hid then- 

 faces in terror. "When a blue light was bm-ned, and 

 lit up the gloomy shadows of the neighbouring 

 bush, it disclosed the spectral figures of many 

 armed men among the trees, singly and in groups, 

 intently watching our motions. Paida, who with 

 other native allies of ours still remained with us, 

 was very urgent for us to be off, telling me that 

 spears ^ould be thro'mi immediatel}* (kaibu kalaka 

 muro) ; being a kotaig of mine, he considered him- 

 self bound to attend to my safetj'^, so conducted me 

 to the boat which he assisted in shoving off, nor did 

 he retire from the beach until we had got into deep 

 water. 



I have alluded to this occurrence, trivial as it 

 may appear, not without an object. It serves as 

 an illustration of the policy of respecting' the known 

 customs of the Australian race, even in apparently 

 ^rifling matters, at least during the earl}" period of 

 intercourse with a tribe, and shews how a Httle 

 want of judgment in the director of our party caused 

 the most fi-iendly intentions to be misconstrued, and 

 might have led to fatal results. I must confess 



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