COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
213 
frightful rapidity and destructive effect. Having isio. 
thus very soon cleared sufficient space for our June 2S * 
purpose, a sail was suspended between two trees, 
to shelter the people from the sun at their work 
upon the boat, the keel of which was laid the 
same evening. In the afternoon, we discovered 
two streamlets near the tent, from which we ob- 
tained our water, and wood was cut close to the 
beach. 
Near the watering-place were some natives’ 
bark-huts and gourds ; and two or three baskets, 
made of the leaf of the cabbage palm, were 
hanging on the branches of the surrounding 
bushes. The owners of these implements were 
not seen, but it was evident they were near at 
hand, from the recent appearance of their traces ; 
the bones of the kangaroo and scales of fish were 
strewed about their fire-places, and close by were 
ovens similar to those of Goold Island. 
The following day Mr. Cunningham, being in 29. 
search of plants, fell in with a party of natives 
consisting of ten or twelve men ; two of them car- 
ried each a bundle of spears and a throwing-stick : 
Mr. Cunningham endeavoured to persuade the 
three foremost to approach, but they were alarmed 
at a dog that was with him ; seeing this he sent 
away the only man who accompanied him with 
the animal, and at last enticed them to draw near. 
