122 , SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1821. fore we succeeded in heaving her over, and 
Dec. 24. reaching the anchorage we had occupied at 
our last visit. Whilst warping in, the natives, 
who had followed the vessel along the sandy 
beach that separates the two harbours, were 
amusing themselves near us, in striking fish 
with a single barbed spear, in which sport 
they appeared to be tolerably successful. As 
soon as we passed the bar, three other natives 
made their appearance on the east side, who, 
upon the boat going to that shore to lay out 
the hedges, took their seats in it as unceremo- 
niously as a passenger would in a ferry-boat; 
and upon its returning to the brig, came on 
board, and remained with us all the afternoon, 
much amused with every thing they saw, and 
totally free from timidity or distrust. Each of 
our visitors was covered with a mantle of kan- 
garoo-skin, but these were laid aside upon their 
being clothed with other garments, with the no- 
velty of which they appeared greatly diverted. 
The natives on the opposite shore seeing that 
their companions were admitted, were loudly 
vociferous in their request to be sent for also; 
but, unfortunately for them, it was the lee shore, 
so that no boat went near them ; and, as we did 
not wish to be impeded by having so many on 
