precautions been taken by the commanders of other
vessels, numerous fearful tragedies might have been prevented.

Some of the canoes I speak of had outriggers; but others, used
apparently only for the smooth water of the harbour, consisted merely of
four trunks of some light wood, partially hollowed out by fire, and
lashed tightly together. Two men sat in them,--one in the bows and the
other astern,--who used long pointed paddles like the heads of spears.
They usually carried one passenger; in some instances this passenger was
a woman, enveloped from head to foot in a cloak of matting.

As the brig had her six guns pointed through her ports, and the crew
were seen pacing the deck with cutlasses by their sides and muskets in
their hands, the people showed every disposition to behave peaceably,
and to traffic on fair terms. Finding that we wanted sandal-wood, they
brought off an ample supply, for which my father gave them a price which
thoroughly satisfied them. Had all traders behaved as he did, I am
convinced that the natives, who have often been stigmatised as
treacherous savages, would have gained a very different character.

We again sailed, steering westward, as my father wished to inspect some
of the northern portions of the eastern coast of Australia, at that time
but little known. His intercourse with savages had led him to believe
that, if properly treated, as he had always treated them, they could be
easily managed; and he had therefore no fear of settling at a distance
from other colonists. Indeed, he wished to be as far as possible from
other stations; so that, by keeping the convict servants assigned to him
away from the contaminating influence of their old companions, he might
have a better opportunity of improving them, while he might at the same
time win the confidence of the natives.

I have as yet said nothing about the brig, or those on board. She was
called the _Violet_, of nearly two hundred tons burthen. The first and
second mates were respectively men selected by my father for their good
character, but there was nothing remarkable about them. The boatswain,
Ned Burton, took the place in my regard which I had bestowed on poor
Dick Tillard, whom, strangely enough, he knew.

"And a right honest fellow he was, Master Godfrey," said Ned; "and if
ever I go to that island from which you have escaped, I'll pay a visit
to his grave. He and I served His Majesty for many a year; and if the
peace