COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
289 
examining several torrent* worn gullies for it 1819. 
without success, we ascended a hill to look Sept. 17. 
round for some more probable place ; but, as the 
same arid appearance seemed to pervade every 
part within our view, we re-embarked, and shortly 
landed upon a bluff point, at the north-west end 
of the island ; from which a considerable reef 
of rocks projects into the sea. 
Whilst I was employed in taking a set of bear- 
ings from this station, the boat’s crew amused 
themselves in wandering about the rocks in 
search of shells; and, upon our again embark- 
ing, they informed me that they had seen some 
natives on the beach of a Sandy bay round the 
point ; but that they had retired without having 
been noticed. The information proved correct ; 
for, on pulling round the point, we espied four 
natives seated on the sand, watching the progress 
of a fire they had just kindled ; which was ra- 
pidly spreading through, and consuming the dry 
and parched up grass that grew scantily upon the 
face of the island. As soon as we were ob- 
served, three of them got up and stood for some 
moments motionless with alarm; but, upon my 
calling to them and waving my hat, the whole 
party, seizing their spears, ran off, and in a few 
seconds disappeared in the hollow behind the 
beach. On the sand were marks of turtles, which 
Vol. I, u 
