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APPENDIX. 



125 



to four of the people to go to the end of the bay, about two miles 

 distant from the bell tent, to occupy the skeleton of an old Indian 

 wigwam, which I had discovered in a walk that way upon our first 

 landing. This we covered to windward with sea- weed ; and, lighting 

 a fire, laid ourselves down in hopes of finding a remedy for our 

 hunger in sleep ; but we had not long composed ourselves before one 

 of our company was disturbed by the blowing of some animal at his 

 face ; and, upon opening his eyes, was not a little astonished to see 

 by the glimmering of the fire, a large beast standing over him. He 

 had presence of mind enough to snatch a brand from the fire, which 

 was now very low, and thrust it at the nose of the animal, who 

 thereupon made off." . . . . "In the morning, we were not 

 a little anxious to know how our companions had fared ; and this 

 anxiety was increased upon our tracing the footsteps of the beast in 

 the sand, in a direction towards the bell tent. The impression was 

 deep and plain, of a large round foot well furnished vdth claws. 

 Upon acquainting the people in the tent with the circumstances of 

 our story, we found that they too had been visited by the same un- 

 welcome guest, which they had driven away by much the same ex- 

 pedient. We now returned from this cruise, with a strong gale, to 

 Wager's Island ; here we soon discovered, by the quarters of dogs 

 hanging up, that the Indians had brought a fresh supply to our 

 market. Upon inquiry, we found that there had been six canoes of 

 them, who, among other methods of taking fish, had taught their dogs 

 to drive the fish into a corner of some pond, or lake, from whence they 

 were easily taken out by the skill and address of these savages." 



*' Upon returning up the Lagoon,* we were so fortunate as to kill 

 some seal, which we boiled and laid in the boat for sea- stock. While 

 we were ranging along-shore in detached parties, in quest of this 

 and whatever other eatable might come in our way, our surgeon, 

 who was then by himself, discovered a pretty large hole, which 

 seemed to lead to some den, or repository, within the rocks. It was 

 not so rude, or natural, but that there were some signs of its having 

 been cleared and made more accessible by industry. The surgeon 

 for some time hesitated whether he should venture in, from his un- 

 certainty as to the reception he might meet with from any inha- 

 bitant ; but his curiosity getting the better of his fears, he deter- 

 mined to go in ; which he did upon his hands and knees, as the 

 * Holloway Sound — near Port Otway. 



