COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 319 
of the plants that were growing upon it. Whilst 1819. 
meditating upon the propriety of landing so Oct. 5. 
near to the natives, whose conduct we had al- 
ready some reason to suspect, a dog, which we 
had before seen with them, came from behind a 
bush near the water’s edge, and walked up to 
its knees in the water towards us ; the boat was 
backed in, and we endeavoured to entice it within 
our reach by throwing some food ; but the animal, 
upon discovering that we were strangers, be- 
came shy, and, after smelling about, ran back to- 
wards a bush about fifty yards off ; from which 
the natives, who had all the time been concealed 
behind it, rushed out, and with loud shouts ran 
towards us : upon reaching the water’s edge, they 
threw several stones, one of which nearly struck 
the boat ; they then prepared their spears, when 
it was found necessary to deter them by firing a 
musquet over their heads; the noise of which 
had the desired effect ; for, struck with a sudden 
panic at the report which echoed through the 
trees, they .turned and fled; and, as they scam- 
pered off, two more balls were fired over them, 
which, if possible, increased the rapidity of their 
flight, until the trees concealed them from our 
view ; after this TrT a neither heard nor saw any 
thing more of them. 
This circumstance gave the name of Encounter 
