s sent on shore. A
better approach to Point William, the acclivity being more gentle, was
discovered this morning, and a large party immediately employed in
clearing away the timber and brushwood, for the purpose of making a
broad road through it.

_Saturday, Nov. 3_.--The Eden was moved nearer to Point William and the
Adelaide Islands, for the greater convenience of landing the working
parties, stores, &c. The steam-vessel and her prizes also left their
anchorage in the bay, and moved into Clarence Cove. Not a single canoe
was visible on the water, and very few natives on the shore; we were
informed by our interpreter, that they were occupied with the funeral
of a chief, but suspect that the different tribes were assembled in
council to discuss the subject of our arrival, and our evident
intention to form a settlement among them.

_Nov. 4_.--Some native chiefs were much delighted with sitting in our
chairs; but, when the Captain presented them with a few knives, small
looking-glasses, and other trinkets, their delight was raised to
rapture, expressed by clapping their hands and singing certain short
sentences in a high tone of voice, at the same time bowing their heads,
as if to indicate their readiness to admit our superiority. We were
afterwards informed, that these songs were in our praise, and implied
the following meaning:--"Truly you are come to do us good." We
entertained them with palm-wine, Madeira, biscuit, fish, and yams; we
found, however, on this, as on all other occasions, that these
unsophisticated people preferred their native viands to our European
delicacies. They appeared much interested with the three European
females we had on board; but, whether they had sufficient taste to
prefer them to their native beauties, I shall not pretend to determine.
After remaining two hours on board, they took their leave, and returned
to the shore.

_Monday, November 5_.--Anderson, who had been absent two days, returned
this morning in a large canoe of seventeen paddles, accompanied by the
same party of chiefs who had visited us yesterday, with, however, an
addition of the king's son. Before coming alongside, they pulled round
the ship, singing most loudly and merrily. Though Captain Owen was on
shore, they were taken into the cabin, and entertained until his
return, after which he gave a present to each of them. Notwithstanding
this liberality, the principal chief fixed his covetous eye upon an
axe, and expresse