COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 65 
them our farewell, and turned our backs to de- issi. 
scend the rocks, than they unexpectedly, and in Aug. 7. 
the most treacherous manner, threw their spears ; 
one of which, striking a rock, broke and fell 
harmless to the ground, but the other, which was 
thrown by the tallest man, wounded Mr. Mont- 
gomery in the back ; the natives then, without 
waiting to throw their second spears, made off, 
closely pursued by Bundell, who had armed him- 
self with the broken spear; but they were out of 
sight in a moment, and, by the time that the 
muskets were brought to our assistance, were 
doubtless out of gun-shot. A pursuit was, how- 
ever, commenced, but our progress was so much 
impeded by the rugged and rocky nature of the 
ground, and by the abundance and intricate 
growth of the shrubs and trees, that we very 
soon desisted, and returned to the boat, to which 
Mr. Montgomery had been in the mean time 
carried, complaining of great weakness from loss 
of blood.. 
Upon examining Mr. Montgomery's wound, 
which unfortunately was in such a part of his 
body that he could not himself inspect it, it 
appeared that the spear had penetrated about 
three inches ; and, from the quantity of extra- 
vasated blood, great fears were entertained that 
he had received a very serious internal injury, 
VoL. II. F 
