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DLTA1NEU BY EBB TIDE. 



there was, being against us, we were now obliged 

 to anchor for six hours. The canoe with four men 

 still followed us up, and kept within about a hun- 

 dred yards of us, shouting apparently in defiance. 

 We held up hatchets to them, and invited them in 

 every way we could think of to come alongside, 

 instead of which they had now the impudence to 

 shoot an arrow, which fell near us. To shew them 

 they were completely in our power if we pleased, we 

 returned it by several shots fired along the water, 

 pretty close to the canoe, on which they paddled oft', 

 and when about four hundred yards distant, another 

 musket was fired with good elevation, and with our 

 glasses we could sec the ball splash in the water, 

 rather beyond them, which no doubt surprised them 

 a good deal, as we saw no more of them. 



It was now determined to occupy the six hours' 

 detention we must endure here till the next flood 

 tide, by landing and examining the last village we 

 had passed. We accordingly dropped down to it, 

 and anchored opposite the large house, about 150 

 yards from the bank. About a dozen men were in 

 the balcony of the large house, armed with bows and 

 arrows, which they frequently discharged at us, but 

 of course ineffectually. There was a great howling 

 jn the village, which we at first took for that of 

 women and children, but afterwards discovered to 

 be the native dogs.* 



* These we could see with our glasses, aud they resembled, 

 both in appearauce aud cry, the dingo or native dog of Australia. 



