318 
A VOYAGE TO 
[East Coast. 
coast ? f° r Ae probability of being lost is greater in making three 
Tu< sday 30 . hundred miles in an open boat at sea, than in running even six hun- 
dred along shore. It would have added much to our satisfaction, 
could we have conveyed the intelligence of this fortunate progress 
to our shipmates on the bank. 
The necessity for a supply of fresh water was becoming 
urgent, for our remaining half hogshead was much reduced. There 
were about twenty Indians upon the side of a hill near the shore, 
who seemed to be peaceably disposed, amusing us with dances in 
imitation of the kanguroo ; we made signs of wanting water, which 
they understood, and pointed to a small rill falling into the sea. 
Two of the sailors leaped over-board, with some trifles for the natives 
and one end of the lead line; with the other end we slung the empty 
cask, which they hauled on shore and filled without molestation. 
A shark had followed them to the beach ; and fearing they might 
be attacked in returning, we got up the anchor and went to a place 
where the surf, though too much to allow of the boat landing, per- 
mitted us to lie closer. The cask of water, a bundle of wood, 
and the two men were received on board without accident; the 
natives keeping aloof during the whole time, and even retiring when 
our people approached, though they were without arms and naked. 
It is probable that the Indians were astonished at the comparison 
between the moderately wTite skins of the sailors and their own, 
and perhaps had heard of my expedition to Glass-house Bay in 1799, 
in which I had been provoked to make one of them feel the effect 
of our arms; and had they attempted any thing against my two men, 
we were prepared to have given them a volley from the boat which 
would probably have been a fearful confirmation of the truth of the 
report; but happily for both parties, we were not reduced to the 
*> necessity. 
On rowing to Point Look-out, to continue the voyage, I found 
the wind so fresh from the southward that the greatest fatigue at 
the oars could advance us little ; we therefore ran to leeward of two 
