264 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1819. tacks were premeditated by the natives during 
Aug. 9. the day, they having once or twice approached 
near the verge of the cliffs; but their courage 
forsook them before they were sufficiently near 
to throw either spears or stones with effect. A 
flag was always hoisted on board, whenever 
they were observed advancing, which prepared 
our people on the beach to give them a recep- 
tion. This signal was certainly noticed by the 
natives, for they always stopped short the mo- 
ment it was displayed. . 
The run of water was so trifling, that we could 
not procure more than from sixty to one hundred 
gallons per day, for while the high tides lasted, 
the well in the morning was always found full of 
salt water. This inconvenience did not occur 
last year, because it was not found necessary to 
dig a hole, the stream being of itself sufficiently 
abundant for our purpose. 
10 - 16 . The delay, however, was not lost, inasmuch as 
it gave an opportunity of finding new rates for 
the watches, as well as of obtaining a set of 
lunar observations for the longitude. 
On the 13th, Mr. Bedwell went to Sims’ Is- 
land for turtle, but no recent tracks were ob- 
served, excepting the remains of one that had 
a week before furnished a repast to the natives. 
Near to this place were found disinterred some 
