equally
unsatisfactory with regard to the shoals and dangers off the mouth of
the harbour, and it seems surprising that the ship should have escaped
them on her passage up the coasts. Still, as she had got in, there was
no doubt that she might get out, could the right passage be found. They
had other causes for hope and thankfulness: the natives were not likely
to prove troublesome, the climate was healthy, and food abundant.

Besides kangaroos, wild dogs were seen, which were supposed to be foxes
or wolves, as they partly resembled both these animals. With the
natives for some time no intercourse was opened. At last some appeared
on the opposite side of the river, very black, totally naked, and with
lances in their hands. The commander judiciously ordered his people to
take no notice of them, as the best means of drawing them near. This
plan succeeded so well that two of them came off in a canoe to within a
musket-shot, and talked very loudly. They were answered in the same
tone, and by degrees they drew nearer, when some cloth, nails, beads,
paper, and other trifles were thrown to them. Of these things, however,
they seemed to take no notice, but were highly pleased when a fish was
offered them. Some of them afterwards landed where Tupia and the rest
of the crew were sitting, and he prevailed on them to lay down their
arms, and to come forward without them. He then made signs that they
should sit down by him. With this they complied, and seemed to be under
no apprehension or constraint, although on more people going on shore
they expressed by their gestures some fear lest the newcomers should get
between them and their arms. More presents were made to them, to show
the goodwill of the strangers, and their desire to continue on friendly
terms. To prove this the Englishmen made signs that they were going to
dinner, and invited the blacks to eat with them; the latter, however,
declined the honour, and went away in their canoes. These men were of
the common stature, but their limbs were remarkably small; their hair
was black, but not woolly, some of them wearing it short cropped, others
lank and long, and others had it curled. Their colour was dark
chocolate, but the tint was owing somewhat to the dirt which covered
their skins. They had lively eyes, and their teeth were even and white.
The tones of their voices were soft and musical, and there was a
flexibility in their organs of speech which enabled them