5 i2 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [August* 



tended, when their agitation was fo great that they feemed on the 

 •point of running into the woods : however, an expedient to detain 

 them was devifed ; the feamen placed them in a clufter behind them- 

 felves, and in this fituation they anxiouily faw Mr. Flinders fire at the 

 bird. What mud have been his fenfations at this moment ! the hawk 

 flew away. This difappointment brought to his recolie&ion how in- 

 effectual had been fome former attempts of his to imprefs them with 

 an idea of the fuperior refinement of his followers. Bong-ree, his 

 mufician, had annoyed his auditors with his barbarous founds ; and 

 the clumfy exhibition of his Scotch dancers had been viewed by them 

 without wonder or gratification. 



It is almoft unnecefTary to fay that thefe people go naked. They, 

 however, wore belts round the waift, and fillets about the head and 

 upper parts of the arms. Thefe were formed of hair, twitted into 

 yarn-like threads, and then into bandages, moftly reticulated. Indeed, 

 the inhabitants of this bay appeared to poffefs, in general, a very 

 pointed difference from, if not a fuperiority over, thofe of New South 

 Wales, particularly in their net-works. There was no doubt but they 

 were provided with nets for catching very large fifh, or animals ; as 

 the fragments of one were picked up, the mefhes of which were wide 

 enough to admit the efcape of a moderate- fized porpoife ; and the line 

 of which it was made was from three quarters to an inch in circum- 

 ference. 



Mr. Flinders was of opinion, that this mode of procuring their 

 food would caufe a characteriftic difference between the manners, and 

 perhaps the difpofitions of thefe people, and of thofe who moftly 

 depend upon the fpear or fizgig for a fupply. In the one cafe, there 

 muft neceffarily be the co-operation of two or more individuals, who 

 therefore, from mutual neceffity, would affociate together. It is fair 

 to iuppofe, that this affociation would, in the courfe of a few genera- 

 tions, if not much fooner, produce a favourable change in the manners 

 and difpofitions even of a favage. In the other cafe, the native who 



depends 



