68 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1^. to the beach, where, from the quantity collected, 
Au^. s. they evidently intended to make a stand; sup- 
posing, no doubt from our appearance yester- 
day, that we were defenceless, and would there- 
fore fall an easy prey. On reaching the rock, 
behind which the native fell, it was found covered 
with blood; and Bundell, who probably did the 
deed, said the wound was on his shoulder. We 
traced their retreat by the blood for half a mile 
to the border of a mangrove inlet, which they 
had evidently crossed, for the marks of their feet 
were perceived imprinted in the mud. We then 
gave up the pursuit, and went on board. 
Upon examining the baskets, among other 
things a piece of iron hoop was found fixed in 
a wooden handle, which it seemed they had used 
for the purpose of digging up roots. This hoop 
must have been left by us last year at Careen- 
ing Bay. But what chiefly attracted our at- 
tention was a small bundle of bark, tied up 
with more than usual care; upon opening it 
we found it contained several spear-heads, most 
ingeniously and curiously made of stone; they 
were about six inches in length, and were termi- 
nated by a very sharp point ; both edges were 
serrated in a most surprising way ; the serratures 
were evidently made by a sharp stroke with 
some instrument, but it was effected without 
