32 CRUISE IN THE PINNACE. 



his head, as if to say, " I am afraid you are cheating 

 me." The spear was merely a long light stick, 

 pointed at one end and not very straight. We now 

 took our leave of them, raising our hats, and bowing, 

 and waving our hands, in which latter action they 

 imitated us. There were then twenty-four men and 

 two boys visible, but no women. They were ail 

 perfectly naked, and the men were stout, broad- 

 shouldered, stalwart fellows, and fat withal. Some 

 of their countenances were good-humoured and in- 

 telligent, others more reserved. They did not 

 follow us down the hill, but saluted us with a fare- 

 well u coey " as we embarked and shoved off. 



Want of water was now becoming a serious matter, 

 as there was only two or three weeks' supply left on 

 board either vessel. The pinnace had been sent 

 under Lieutenant I nee* to the Percy Islands to look 

 for it, but returned unsuccessful. The Bramble 

 accordingly was dispatched to the northward to 

 search for water, and the pinnace was again sent 

 under the command of Mr. Airdf to look along the 

 coast immediately north of Port Bowen, as for the 

 next sixty miles the inshore navigation was too in- 

 tricate and dangerous for a large vessel. West Hill, 

 immediately N. of Broad Sound, was named as our 

 rendezvous. I accompanied Mr. Aird in the pin- 

 nace, in order to see as much of the land as possible. 

 We had, however, a very rough and boisterous 

 cruise, and were obliged, by the badness of the 

 weather to content ourselves with merely running 



* Now Commander Ince. f Now Lieutenant Aird. 



