66 
A VOYAGE TO 
[South Coast. 
1802. they desired to be relanded ; and made signs that the ship must go 
inuaiy ' on shore to them. 
It was with some surprise that I saw the natives of the east 
coast of New South Wales so nearly pourtrayed in those of the 
south-western extremity of New Holland. These do not, indeed, 
extract one of the upper front teeth at the age of puberty, as is 
generally practised at Port Jackson, nor do they make use of the 
womerah, or throwing stick; but their colour, the texture of the hair, 
and personal appearance are the same ; their songs run in the same 
cadence ; the manner of painting themselves is similar ; their belts 
and fillets of hair are made in the same way, and worn in the same 
manner. The short, skin cloak, which is of kanguroo, and worn over 
the shoulders, leaving the rest of the body naked, is more in the 
manner of the wood natives living at the back of Port Jackson, than 
of those who inhabit the sea coast ; and every thing we saw con- 
firmed the supposition of captain Vancouver, that they live more by 
hunting than fishing. None of the small islands had been visited, 
no canoes were seen, nor was any tree found in the woods from 
which the bark had been taken for making one. They were fearful 
of trusting themselves upon the water ; and we could never succeed 
in making them understand the use of the fish hook, although they 
were intelligent in comprehending our signs upon other subjects. 
The manners of these people are quick and vehement, and 
their conversation vociferous, like that of most uncivilised people. 
They seemed to have no idea of any superiority we possessed over 
them ; on the contrary, they left us, after the first interview, with 
some appearance of contempt for our pusillanimity ; which was pro- 
bably inferred from the desire we showed to be friendly with them. 
This opinion, however, seemed to be corrected in their future visits. 
Nothwithstanding the similarity of person and manner to the 
inhabitants of Port Jackson, the language of these people is very 
different. We found their pronunciation difficult to be imitated; 
