1799-] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 507 



account admit of his approaching without laying down his gun. This 

 place was about fix miles from Point Skirmifti ; but it was evident that 

 the fame and dread of their fire-arms had reached thus far, and were 

 mo ft probably increafed by the {hooting of the (wans, which they 

 mud have witnefTed. 



In their return down the river, they were called to by a man on 

 the weft fide, who had a fpear in his hand ; but two women and fe- 

 verai children being behind argued rather againft any premeditated 

 hoftility. The women and children retired on their approaching 

 the more ; but they were obferved to be peeping at them from 

 behind the buflies. This man made great exclamations for the 

 mufket to be laid down, calling out <c woo-rah, woo-rah," as others 

 had done, and feemed pleafed when it was complied with ; but he 

 could not have heard many particulars of their weapons; for, on 

 pointing a niufquet toward him* to try the experiment, he did not 

 appear to be fenfible of the danger to nimfelf in that cafe. As he did 

 not choofe to quit his fpear, and the fun was defcending, they did not 

 land, but backed in near enough to throw him a yarn {locking, which 

 they fhewed him was to be worn as a cap with a tail to it, and then 

 parted good friends. 



Monday the 22d was paffed in getting the floop into the river, which 

 with Tome difficulty was accomplished, having to find out a channel 

 through an infinity of fhoals. Having completely flopped the leak in 

 his veffel and re-flowed her, he loft no time in profecuting his intended 

 excurfion to the Glafs-Houfe Peaks. Previous to their departure, three 

 natives made their appearance upon the beach, a fhort diftance below 

 the veffel, and unarmed as before. Bong-ree went up to them in 

 his ufual undaunted manner ; but they would not fuffer Mr. Flinders 

 or any of his party to approach them, without firft laying down their 

 mufkets. Prefents were made them of yarn caps, pork, and bifcuit, 

 all of which they eagerly took, and made figns for Bong-ree to go 

 with them, and they would give him girdles and fillets, to bind round 

 his head and the upper parts of his arms. So long as their vifitors 



o t o confided 



