COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
393 
and were, doubtless, deterred from attacking 1820. 
him, by witnessing the destructive effects of his Aug. 23. 
gun among a flight of cockatoos, five or six of 
which he brought away, and left as many more 
hopping about the grass wounded, and making 
the woods re-echo with their screams. When 
Mr. Hunter parted from Mr. Roe, the natives 
remained to watch the latter gentleman ; and no 
sooner had he discharged his gun, which they 
found was of no use until it was reloaded, than 
they commenced their attack ; and from the 
known dexterity of the natives of this country in 
throwing the spear, it was not a little surprising 
that they missed him so repeatedly. 
Before we embarked for the night, I walked 
with Mr. Roe to the place where he was at- 
tacked, in order to look for the spears that had 
been thrown at him, and for the cartridges he 
had lost; but as neither were found, we were 
revengeful enough to hope that the natives would 
burn their fingers with the powder, an event not 
at all unlikely to occur, from their ignorance of 
the dangerous effect of placing the cartridges near 
the fire, which they would be sure to do. 
During our visit we were fortunate in having 
very fine weather; and although it was very 
hazy, we did not experience that excessive heat 
which, from the advanced state of the season, 
