COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
215 
each other. Mr. Cunningham saw a kangaroo in 
one of his walks, but on mentioning the name of the 
animal, accompanied by a gesture descriptive of 
its leap, the natives did not appear to understand 
what was meant, although it was from these very 
people that Captain Cook obtained the name*; 
it was therefore thought to be possible, that in 
the space of time elapsed since his visit, this 
word might have become obsolete. 
The next day no natives came near us, perhaps 
by reason of the rainy weather ; but, on the 2d, 
whilst our people were at the watering-place 
washing their clothes, they were visited by twelve 
natives, some of whom were strangers ; one of 
them, an elderly man, who had his son with him, 
a little boy of eight or nine years of age, appeared 
very morose and captious : every thing was done 
by our people to amuse and keep them in good 
humour ; but, upon one of the sailors attempting 
to comb the head of the youngster, the old gentle- 
man became so violently enraged, that Mr. Bed- 
well found it necessary to send away the offender, 
in order to conciliate them, for the whole party 
had armed themselves with stones. Peace was 
thus restored, excepting with the individual before- 
mentioned, who still continued to be very angry 
1819 
June 30. 
July 1. 
2 . 
* Hawkesworth, vol. iii. p. 174. 
