2 86 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [March, 



which in his opinion could render a fecond vifit neceffary. The na- 

 tives were fo very unfriendly, that he made few obfervations on them, 

 other than that they were fomewhat taller and a ftouter race of people 

 than thofe about Sydney : their language was entirely different. Their 

 huts and canoes were fomething larger, and their weapons were the 

 fame. They welcomed him on fhore with a dance, joined hand in 

 hand round a tree, to exprefs, perhaps, their unanimity ; but one of 

 them afterwards, drawing Mr. Grimes into the wood, poifed a fpear, 

 and was on the point of throwing it, when he was prevented by young 

 Wilfon ; who, having followed Mr. Grimes with a double-barrelled 

 gun, levelled at the native, and fired it. He was fuppofed to be 

 wounded, for he fell ; but, rifing again, he made a fecond attempt to 

 throw the fpear, and was again prevented by Wilfon : the effect of 

 this fecond fhot was fuppofed to be conclufive, as he was not feen to 

 rife any more. Mr. Grimes got back to his boat without further 

 interruption. 



The fpirit of inquiry being on foot, an officer of the corps made an 

 excurfion to the fouthward of Botany Bay, and brought back with 

 him fome of the head bones of a marine animal, which, on infpe&ion, 

 Captain Paterfon, the only naturalift in the country, pronounced to 

 have belonged to that defcribed by M. de Buffon, and named by him 

 the Manatee. 



On this excurfion, the officer received fome information which led 

 him to believe that the cattle which had been loft foon after the fettle- 

 ment was formed, were ftili in exiftence. The natives who converfed 

 with him were fo particular in their account of having feen a large 

 animal with horns, that he fhortly after, taking fome of them with 

 him as guides, fet off to leek them ; but returned without fuccefs, not 

 having met with any trace that could lead to fuppofe that they might 

 ever be found. 



On the 4th of March the Britannia returned from the Cape of 

 Good Hope, having been gone fix months. Mr. Raven brought 



alive 



