VOYAGE TO NEW SOUTH WALES. 
vance towards them, unarmed, and with his hands opened 
wide (a Hgnal we had obferved among them of amity 
and peace), they, with great confidence, came up to him, 
and received from him fome trifles which he had in his 
pocket, fuch as fifh-hooks, beads, and a looking-glafs. 
As there appeared not to be lefs than three hundred of them 
in this bay, all armed, the foldiers were ordered to fix 
their bayonets, and to obferve a clofe, well connedled, order 
of march, as they defcended the hill. Thefe people (as 
already mentioned) feem to diflike red coats, and thofe 
who carry arms ; but, on the prefent occafion, they fhewed 
very little fear or diftruft ; on the contrary they, in a few 
minutes, mixed with us, and conduced us to a very fine 
flream of water, out of which fome of them drank, to 
fhew that it was good. The women and children kept 
at fome diftance, one or two more forward than the reft 
excepted, who came to the governor for fome prefents. 
While he was diftributing his gifts, the v/omen danced (an 
exercife every defcription of people in this country feem 
fond of), and threw themfelves into fome not very decent 
attitudes. 
The men in general had their fkins fmeared all over 
with 
