COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
115 
their spears close at hand, for those who were in J8is. 
the water had them floating near them, and those May 17. 
who were on the beach had them either buried 
in the sand, or carried them between their toes, 
in order to deceive us and to appear unarmed ; 
and in this they succeeded, until one of them 
was detected, when we were pulling towards the 
woman, by his stooping down and picking up 
his spear. 
Finding that we had no chance of recovering our 
loss, we returned on board, when the natives 
also withdrew from the beach, and did not after- 
wards shew themselves. 
The next morning we weighed with the flood, is. 
and worked up the opening against the wind for 
sixteen or seventeen miles, when the tide turned, 
and we anchored in eleven fathoms. In most parts 
the banks were inaccessible, being nearly overrun 
with mangroves ; but the low appearance of the 
country within, and the mischievous disposition 
of the natives, made me less anxious to examine 
into the thick woods that surrounded us on all 
sides. Wherever a clear space presented itself, 
the sago palm was seen mixed with the fan 
palm, the pandanus and other trees, among 
which the eucalyptus as usual appeared to be the 
most abundant. 
At eight o’clock the next morning we were 
