COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
357 
throw it at a paper-mark placed against a bush I820. 
at the distance of twelve yards. He launched it July 22. 
twice, but, much to his mortification, without 
striking the object. Mr. Hunter then fired, and 
perforated the paper with shot, which increased 
the shame that the native and his companions 
evidently felt upon the occasion : Mr. Hunter then 
killed a small bird that was skipping about the 
branches of an overhanging tree ; upon the bird 
being given to them, they impatiently and an- 
grily examined it all over, and particularly scru- 
tinized the wound that caused its death. 
We now found that the proved superiority 
of our weapons, instead of quieting them, only 
served to inflame their anger the more ; and we 
were evidently on the point of an open rupture. 
One of them seized the theodolite-stand, which I 
carried in my hand, and I was obliged to use 
force to retain it. They then made signs to 
Mr. Hunter to send his gun to the boat ; this 
was of course refused, upon which one of them 
seized it, and it was only by wrenching it from 
his grasp that Mr. Hunter repossessed himself 
of it. 
Many little toys were now given to them, on 
receiving which, their countenances relaxed into a 
smile; and peace would perhaps have been re- 
stored, had we not unfortunately presented them 
