CHRONOMETER BROKEN. 
155 
last three or four days, and this day felt the most violent 
pain from the wind. I was not, therefore, sorry to get un- 
der even the poor shelter our tents afforded. M‘Leay, ob- 
serving that I was in considerable pain, undertook to 
wind up the chronometer ; but, not understanding or know- 
ing the instrument, he unfortunately broke the spring. I 
shall not forget the anxiety he expressed, and the regret 
he felt on the occasion ; nor do I think M‘Leay recovered 
the shock this unlucky accident gave him for two or 
three days, or until the novelty of other scenes drove it 
from his recollection. 
We landed close to the haunt of a small tribe of natives, 
who came to us with the most perfect confidence, and as- 
sisted the men in their occupations. They were cleaner and 
more healthy than any tribe we had seen; and were ex- 
tremely cheerful, although reserved in some respects. As a 
mark of more than usual cleanliness, the women had mats 
of oval shape, upon which they sat, made, apparently, of 
rushes. There was a young girl among them of a most 
cheerful disposition. She was about eighteen, was well 
made, and really pretty. This girl was married to an elderly 
man who had broken his leg, which having united in a bent 
shape, the limb was almost useless. I really believe the girl 
thought we could cure her husband, from her impor- 
tunate manner to us. I regretted that I could do nothing 
for the man, but to shew that I was not inattentive to her 
entreaties, I gave him a pair of trowsers, and desired 
Fraser to put them upon him ; but the poor fellow 
