cxl INTRODUCTION. {Prior Discoveries. 
JjgJjJ in return presented us with a piece of gristly fat, probably of whale. 
1798. This I tasted ; but watching an opportunity to spit it out when he 
should not be looking, I perceived him doing precisely the same thing 
with our biscuit, whose taste was probably no more agreeable to 
him, than his whale was to me. Walking onward with us to the 
long beach, our new acquaintance picked up from the grass a long 
wooden spear, pointed with bone ; but this he hid a little further on, 
making signs that he should take it on his return. The commence- 
ment of our trigonometrical operations was seen by him with indif- 
ference, if not contempt; and he quitted us, apparently satisfied that, 
from people who could thus occupy themselves seriously, there was 
nothing to be apprehended. 
We measured 1 16 chains along the north beach, and having taken 
the necessary angles, returned to Snug Cove for the purpose of 
observing the latitude ; but the thick squalls, which were continually 
passing over from the south-west, prevented a sight of the sun. The 
survey was continued in the afternoon; and on the following 
morning, Oct. 11, the wind being still unfavourable, the west side of 
the bay was nearly completed. 
I was preparing the artificial horizon for observing the latitude, 
when a party of seven or eight natives broke out in exclamation 
upon the bank above us, holding up their open hands to shew they 
were unarmed. We were three in number, and, besides a pocket 
pistol, had two muskets. These they made no objection to our 
bringing, and we sat down in the midst of the party. It consisted 
entirely of young men, who were better made, and cleaner in their 
persons than the natives of Port Jackson usually are ; and their 
countenances bespoke both good will and curiosity, though mixed 
with some degree of apprehension. Their curiosity was mostly 
directed to our persons and dress, and constantly drew off their at- 
tention from our little presents, which seemed to give but a momen- 
tary pleasure. The approach of the sun to the meridian calling 
me down to the beach, our visitors returned into the woods, 
