370 SURVEY OF THE 1NTERTROPICAL 
is2o. away, but after walking a short distance, one of 
julyao. them returned, and stooping, picked up some- 
thing with which he immediately slunk off, evi- 
dently with the hope of having escaped our 
notice: but in this he was disappointed; for 
Mr. Hunter and Mr. Cunningham followed him, 
and ascertained that he had returned to carry 
away his spear, which had been concealed close at 
hand during their communication with our party ; 
and by the limping gait of the rest, it was pro- 
bable that they all carried spears between their 
toes; — a practice that has been frequently ob- 
served among the natives in many parts of New 
South Wales, when they wish to conceal their 
being armed ; and which generally indicates a 
mischievous intention. 
Shortly after their departure, the country to- 
wards the back of the harbour was perceived 
to have been set on fire by them ; as the wind 
was fresh, the flames spread about in all direc- 
tions; and, in the evening, our people being 
allowed to range about for amusement, increased 
the conflagration by setting fire to the surround- 
ing grass ; so that the whole surface was in a 
31. blaze. The next day, whilst busily employed at 
the tent in calculating some lunar distances, we 
were suddenly alarmed by the rapid approach of 
the flames ; but, having previously taken the pre- 
