COASTS OP AUSTRALIA. 
Ill 
us to land, which we should have done, had 
it not been that the noises they made soon Ma ? 17 - 
collected a large body of natives, who came 
running from all directions to their assistance ; 
and, in a short time, there were twenty-eight or 
thirty natives assembled. After a short parley 
with them, in which they repeatedly asked for 
axes by imitating the action of chopping, we 
went on board, intimating to them our intention 
of returning with some, which w r e would give to 
them upon the restoration of the stand, which 
they immediately understood and assented to. 
The natives had three dogs with them. 
On our return to the beach, the natives had 
again assembled, and shouted loudly as we ap- 
proached. Besides the whale boat, in which 
Mr. Bedwell was stationed with an armed 
party ready to' fire if any hostility commenced, 
we had our jolly-boat, in which I led the way 
with two men, and carried with me two toma- 
hawks and some chisels. On pulling near the 
beach the whole party came down and w r aded 
into the water towards us ; and, in exchange for 
a few chisels and files, gave us two baskets, 
one containing fresh water ar^d the other was full 
of the fruit of the sago*palm, which grows here 
! in great abundance. The basket containing the 
water was conveyed to us by letting it float on 
