er of
each, while they guided her errant legs into these novelties of Europe.

Their refusal of food, for themselves and children, was from distaste
rather than distrust; and they only discovered suspicion, when the
French penetrated the country. They posted a guard, to give notice of
any movement, and when an attempt was made, it was interrupted by the
loud screams of the women, and the entreaties of the men. They resisted
the intrusion with displeasure, and even menace.

On other occasions, they tended on the French with great kindness,
removing fallen branches from their path; and when the ground was
sloping and slippery, they walked beside them, and held them up.[2] They
rested every half mile, saying _medi_, "sit down;" then rising again,
after a few minutes' rest.

They themselves first saw the French: who, having travelled several
miles, lay down for the night near a brook: their fires betrayed them. A
native, next morning, pointed to their resting place: laid his head on
his hand, and closed his eyes. The good-nature of these people never
languished: twice, when the French lost their way, they directed them to
their ships. They welcomed their visits by raising their hands over
their heads, shouting and stamping on the ground. They greeted them as
often as their wanderings brought them in sight of the vessels, and with
the same friendly sounds bade them adieu.

[1798.] We owe to Captain Flinders and Dr. Bass the next description of
the natives. They were saluted by voices from the hills which border the
Derwent; one of these they ascended and saw a man, and two women, who,
catching up their baskets, scampered away. The man met them with
confidence: they tried, in vain, to converse with him in the dialects of
New Holland. They desired him to lead them to his hut; but he hesitated,
and moved slowly in the direction to which he had pointed. Consulting
his apparent feelings they desisted, and parted in friendship. This was
the first man they had seen in the island. His countenance, they
describe as unusually benignant; his features less negro-like than
common, and his manners frank and open. He exhibited neither curiosity
nor fear, nor did he seem attracted by any part of their dress, except
their cravats!

Mr. Bass made several expeditions into the country, attended only by his
dogs, and meeting no inhabitants he concluded that their numbers were
inconsiderable.

The accounts descriptive of native customs, by