TERRA AUSTRALIS, 
) Vellesley's Islands .] 
137 
Allen’s Isle is between four and five miles in length, and 1802. 
though generally barren, there are bushes and small trees upon it, ^tuvfay 7 o. 
and some tolerable grass. It is altogether low land ; but the south- 
east end is cliffy, and within two cables length of it there is 4 fathoms; 
no fresh water was found near the shore, nor any place where 
casks could be conveniently landed. After taking a set of bearings 
I left the gentlemen to follow their pursuits, and rowed north-west- 
ward, intending to go round the island ; but an impassable reef ex- 
tended so far out, that the project was given up ; and after taking 
angles from one of the rocks, I went eastward to a smaller island 
two miles off, where several Indians where perceived. The water 
was too shallow for the boat to get near them ; but we landed at a 
little distance, and walked after three men who were dragging six 
small rafts toward the extreme northern rocks, where three other 
natives were sitting. 
These men not choosing to abandon their rafts, an interview 
was unavoidable, and they came on shore with their spears to wait 
our approach. One of us advanced towards them, unarmed ; and 
signs being made to lay down their spears, which were understood 
to mean that they should sit down, they complied ; and by degrees, 
a friendly intercourse was established. They accepted some red 
worsted caps and fillets, as also a hatchet and an adze, the use of 
which being explained, was immediately comprehended. In return, 
they gave us two very rude spears, and a womerah, or throwing 
stick, of nearly the same form as those used by the natives of Port 
Jackson. 
The rafts consisted of several straight branches of mangrove, 
very much dried, and lashed together in two places with the largest 
ends one way, so as to form a broad part, and the smaller ends clos- 
ing to a point. Near the broad end was a bunch of grass, where the 
man sits to paddle ; but the raft, with his weight alone, must swim 
very deep ; and indeed I should scarcely have supposed it could float 
a man at all. Upon one of the rafts was a short net, which, from 
VOL. II. X 
