58 
A VOYAGE TO 
[South Coast. 
i8oi. nication with strangers ; and they very early made signs to our gen- 
T^esdTyTs. d emm to return from whence they came. Next morning, however, 
we were agreeably surprised by the appearance of two Indians, and 
afterwards of others, upon the side of the hill behind our tents. 
They approached with much caution, one coming first with poised 
spear, and making many gestures, accompanied with much vocife- 
rous parleying, in which he sometimes seemed to threaten us if 
we did not be gone, and at others to admit of our stay. On Mr. 
Purdie, the assistant-surgeon, going up to him unarmed, a commu- 
nication was brought about, and they received some articles of iron 
and toys, giving in exchange some of their implements ; and after 
a short stay, left us, apparently on very good terms. 
Thursday 17. On the 17th, one of our former visitors brought two strangers 
with him : and after this time, they and others came almost every 
day, and frequently stopped a whole morning at the tents. We 
always made them presents of such things as seemed to be most 
agreeable, but they very rarely brought us any thing in return ; nor 
was it uncommon to find small mirrors, and other things left about 
the shore ; so that at length our presents were discontinued. 
Wednes. 23. I formed a party on the 23rd, consisting of the officers of the 
ship, the scientific gentlemen, and others, amounting to thirteen, well 
armed and provided for two days, in order to visit the lakes behind 
West Cape Howe. We walked along the shore to the north-western 
extremity of Princess-Royal Harbour, where several small runs of 
fresh water were found to drain in, from peaty swamps. Striking 
from thence into the country in a western direction, we had not 
advanced far when a native was seen running before us ; and soon 
afterward an old man, who had been several times at the tents, came 
up, unarmed as usual. He was very anxious that we should not 
go further ; and acted with a good deal of resolution in first stopping 
one, and then another of those who were foremost. He was not 
able to prevail ; but we accommodated him so far, as to make a 
circuit round the wood, where it seemed probable his family and 
