COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
5 
The soil of the hills, contiguous to Snug Cove, i£i?- 
is very good, and covered with luxuriant grass. Dec. 26. 
The country appeared to be thickly wooded, but 
near the water the trees, which were principally 
species of the eucalyptus andthe casuarina, were 
small and stunted. 
In our strolls during the day along the beach, 
and over the surrounding hills, we did not en- 
counter any inhabitants, although recent signs of 
them were visible at every step ; several beaten 
paths were observed leading to the morass from 
different directions, on the banks of which were 
many shells (haliotis gigantea, Linn.) used by 
the natives for drinking-vessels. 
In the evening, after hauling the seine on the 
beach without success, we were upon the point 
of embarking, when we discovered, at about 
seventy or eighty yards up the hill, the heads of 
three or four natives peeping above the long 
grass, evidently watching our movements, and 
probably awaiting our departure to allow them 
to go to the morass for water. Wishing very 
much to communicate with these people, we 
walked towards them, but they suddenly rose 
and scampered up the hill among the trees, 
which were so thick as soon to conceal them from 
our view. Boongaree called to them in vain , 
