98 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777 ' 
January. 
W 
Wednef, 29. 
friendly a vifit, nor what their intent might be, fired a muf- 
quet in the air, which fent them off with the greateff pre¬ 
cipitation. 
Thus ended our firft interview with the natives. Imme¬ 
diately after their final retreat, judging that their fears 
would prevent their remaining near enough to obferve what 
was palling, I ordered the two pigs, being a boar and fow, 
to be carried about a mile within the woods, at the head of 
the bay. I faw them left there, by the fide of a frelh-water 
brook. A young bull and a cow, and fome Iheep and goats, 
were alfo, at firft, intended to have been left by me, as an 
additional prefent to Van Diemen’s Land. But I foon laid 
afide all thought of this, from a perfuafion that the natives, 
incapable of entering into my views of improving their 
country, would deftroy them. If ever they Ihould meet 
with the pigs, I have no doubt this will be their fate. But 
as that race of animals foon becomes wild, and is fond of 
the thickeft cover of the woods, there is great probability 
of their being preferved. An open place muft have been 
chofen for the accommodation of the other cattle ; and in 
fuch a fituation, they could not poflibly have remained 
concealed many days. 
The morning of the 29th was ufhered in with a dead 
calm, which continued all day, and effectually prevented 
our failing. I therefore fent a party over to the Eaff point 
of the bay to cut grafs; having been informed that fome of 
a fuperior quality grew there. Another party, to cut wood, 
was ordered to go to the ufual place, and I accompanied them 
myfelf. We had obferved feveral of the natives, this morn¬ 
ing, fauntering along the fhore, which affured us, that 
though their confternation had made them leave us fo 
abruptly the day before, they were convinced that we in¬ 
tended 
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