£o.6 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [August, 



14th, which was taken on the Tea fide of it, although it differed con- 

 fiderably from that given by Captain Cook, 



On the (loop Handing near the fouth part of the fhoal that ap- 

 peared to furround the ifland to which the natives had retired, one of 

 them came down abreaft of the veffel, making the fame geftures, and 

 running backwards and forwards, as others had done before ; but 

 little attention Was paid to him, Mr. Flinders being more intent on 

 getting as far up the bay as poffible while the tide favoured him. 



Early the next morning (Sunday the 21ft), Mr. Flinders went in 

 his boat to examine Pumice Stone river, and the entrance into it. On 

 approaching Point Skirmifh, five or fix natives came down to the 

 boat unarmed, and, by friendly geftures and offers- of their girdles 

 and fmall nets, endeavoured to perfuade him to land. He could not 

 fatisfy himfelf whether they had any treacherous defign in this, or 

 whether their prefenting themfelves" ' unarmed proceeded from any 

 confidence which they might have felt, that neither himfelf nor his 

 people would hurt them if they were not the aggreffors. In this point 

 of view the offer of their girdles and nets might have been meant as 

 an atonement for their former conduct ; he did not, however, choofe, 

 to trull them, but proceeded to examine the river. 



When they had nearly reached the end of their excurfion, two na- 

 tives came down to the beach, and feemed defirous- for them to land. 

 There being a dry fand at a fufficient diflance to be out of the reach 

 of fpears, they put afhore upon it. On Mr. Flinders taking up his gun 

 to fire at two red-bills, the natives ran into the woods ; but on Bong- 

 ree's advancing that way they returned, and he made a friendly ex- 

 change for their hair fillets and belts, giving them a white woollen 

 cap in return, and came to the boat for a piece of white cloth and 

 fome bifcuit for them. During this time Mr. Flinders was on fhore 

 upon the fand bank with a gun, to cover him in cafe their behaviour 

 fhould be unfriendly. On his advancing toward them, they were 

 very^vociferous for him to remain at a diftance, and would on no 



account 



