COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
45 
descried on an adjoining island, and as our isia 
principal object was to communicate with “these Feb. 27. 
people, we immediately reimbarked and sailed 
towards it. On approaching the island, we over- 
took two natives on their logs, who, "on perceiving 
that we were pulling towards them, became fright- 
ened, and made violent gestures as if imploring us 
to go away. Four or five unarmed natives were 
standing on the shore of the island, and watched 
our proceedings ; and, upon our sheering off and 
pulling away from the natives upon the logs to- 
wards a sandy beach, the party on the shore 
walked a few steps towards it also, and invited 
us by signs to go ashore. Upon the boat’s 
touching the beach, I landed, and taking Boon- 
garee with me divested of his clothes, walked 
towards the natives, who were standing together, 
a little in the rear of one, who was probably 
their chief. The whole party were trembling 
with fear, and appeared quite palsied as we ap- 
proached and took the chief by the hand. A 
little coaxing, and the investiture of a red cap 
upon the chief’s head, gradually repossessed them 
of their senses, and we were soon gabbling each 
in our own language, and therefore mutually un- 
intelligible. 
In a short time I obtained permission, which 
