SOUTH-WEST COAST. 
85 
scttlcmeBt at Port EssingtoHj and was published in this 
country in 1840 ; but as its circulation haa not been very 
extensive, and no subsequent visit to tbis spot has been 
recorded, Lieutenant Kolff- s account of bis interview with 
tbis un-naraed tribe may be new to the reader. 
"On the 13th (May, 1826), being between the paral- 
lels of 6° and 6^ 30' S., we were enabled to near the 
land J and seeing smoke arise to the northward of us, we 
stood towards it, and shortly perceived a number of small 
-houses on the sandy beach, off which we came to anchor 
in three fathoms, about four miles distant from the shore. 
A number of men were running to and fro on the beach, 
and I lowered one of the boats down for the purpose of 
communicating with them. Several small prahus, con- 
taining seven or eight men each, now came towards the 
vessel, and ba\4ng approached to within musket- shot, 
tujmed back towards the shore. With a view to give 
them confidence, 1 sent the crew down below, and caused 
the pilots and interpreters to call out to them : but their 
answers were unintelligible. Seeing that they were afraid 
to come on board, I sent one of the interpreters with six 
native seamen in the boat, unarmed, with a view to 
conciliate them by presents of tobacco, &c., which were 
shown to them and then launched towards them on a 
plank. 
" Our endeavours, however, were unsuccessful, for they 
were as much afraid of the boat as of the brig, and re- 
treated on its approach. I therefore called the boat on 
board again, on which the natives remained quiet for 
some time, until the number of their prahus increased to 
twelve, when they suddenly rowed towards the brig with 
