5 io ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [August, 



in converfation when the tree fell ; the cram and report of which 

 ftartled them a good deal, and might probably affift in giving them a 

 higher idea of the power of their vifitors. Thefe people were ftill 

 very -averfe from the appearance or approach of a mufquet, keeping 

 a watchful eye upon their flighted movement. 



The gallant and unfufpe&ing native, Bong-ree, made them a pre- 

 fent of one of his fpears, and a throwing-ftick, of which he (hewed 

 them the ufe, for they appeared to be wholly ignorant of the latter ; 

 and their weapons of the former kind were inferior to his. 



Very bad weather detained Mr. Flinders here for two days, during 

 which they were occafionally vifited by the natives, who came down 

 upon both fides of the river, and entertained them with finging and 

 dancing. Not a fpear was at any time to be feen among them. 



A party who went to the eaftern more to procure fire-wood, and 

 to comply with the defire which the natives had fo often expreffed of 

 feeing them land among them, found them ftill timorous ; but, on 

 being encouraged and requefted by figns to fing, they began a fong 

 in concert, which actually was mufical and pleafing, and not merely 

 in the diatonic fcale, defcending by thirds, as at Port Jackfon : the 

 defcent of this was waving, in rather a melancholy Toothing ftrain. 

 The fong of Bong-ree, which he gave them at the conclufion of theirs, 

 founded barbarous and grating to the ear; but Bong-ree was an in- 

 different fongfter, even among his own countrymen. 



Thefe people, like the natives of Port Jackfon, having fallen to the 

 low pitch of their voices, recommenced their fong at the octave, 

 which was accompanied by flow and not ungraceful motions of the 

 body and limbs, their hands being held up in a fupplicating pofture ; 

 and the tone and manner of their fong and geftures feemed to befpeak 

 the good- will and forbearance of their auditors. Obferving that they 

 were attentively liftened to, they each fele&ed one of our people, and 

 placed his mouth clofe to his ear, as if to produce a greater effect, or, 

 it might be, to teach them the fong, which their filent attention might 

 feem to exprefs a defire to learn. As a recompence for the amufe- 



ment 



