30 THEIR SUDDEN RE-APPEARANCE. 



tide coming up to float our boat. We found at low 

 water this muddy inlet dry nearly all across. 



Just as we had got everything into the boat, I 

 happened to say I wondered whether the black fel- 

 lows were still within hearing, and going to the edge 

 of the mount, gave a loud " coey," when, to our 

 great surprise, it was instantly answered close to 

 the mangroves on all sides of us, and the chattering 

 and hubbub of voices commenced as loud as ever, 

 although for two hours not a sound had been heard. 

 Taking a preserved meat canister, an empty bottle 

 or two, and some knives and handkerchiefs, we de- 

 termined to go and have a talk with them. Ad- 

 vancing slowly, accordingly, and holding out our 

 presents, four or five of them were induced gradually 

 to approach us and receive them, and we walked 

 together up the ridge towards the rest. There were 

 now sixteen of them. 



Arrived at the spot where we slept last night, we 

 leant our guns against a tree and sat down, those 

 nearest us doing so likewise. Now commenced a 

 great palaver, in the course of which we went 

 through the motions of drinking water, imitated the 

 leaping of a kangaroo, and dancing a corrobory, 

 all which they seemed to understand ; but we could 

 not learn from them where the fresh water was to 

 be found. We shewed them the ashes of our fire, 

 and laid our heads on our hands to shew we had 

 slept there last night, at which they nodded their 

 heads, as if to say they were fully aware of that. 



