COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 03 
approached the shore, made signs of friendship, 
which the natives returned, and appeared quite Aug, 7, 
unconcerned at our approach. On landing, we 
climbed the rocks on which the two men were 
standing, when we found that the woman had 
walked away: upon our approach, they re- 
tired a few paces, and evidently eyed us . in 
a distrustful manner ; but, as they had dropped 
their spears, and repeated the sign of peace that 
we had made to them, we did not hesitate to 
walk towards them unarmed, desiring the boat’s 
crew to be prepared with the muskets, if called. 
When we joined them they had their spears 
poised ready to throw, but on our presenting 
them with some of the fish that we had caught 
the preceding evening they dropped their spears, 
and immediately returned us something in ex- 
change ; one gave a belt, made of opossum fur, 
to Bundell; and the other, the tallest of the two, 
gave me a club that he carried in his hand, a 
short stick about eighteen inches long, pointed 
at both ends. This exchange of presents ap- 
peared to establish a mutual confidence between 
us, and, to strengthen it, I presented my friend 
with a clasped knife, after shewing him its use, 
the possession of which appeared to give him 
great pleasure. 
By this time Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Bed- 
