uent communication
with the natives: his description of them coincides, generally, with what
has been recited in Marion's voyage. The most striking differences
betwixt these people and those captain Cook had seen on the east coast of
New South Wales, were in their language, in having no canoes, and in the
different texture of the hair: in those it was "naturally long and black,
though it be universally cropped short;" whilst in Adventure Bay, "it was
as woolly, as that of any native of Guinea." * In these particulars, as in
some others, they agreed with Dampier's description of the people on the
North-west Coast, who were without canoes, and had woolly hair.

[* See Cook's _Third Voyage_, Vol. I. p. 93-117.]

The following articles, to the conclusion of PART I. of this Section, are
placed somewhat out of their chronological order, for the convenience of
classing together all the discoveries which had no connection with the
British settlement in New South Wales. Those made in vessels from that
settlement, or which may be considered as a consequence of its
establishment, will compose PART II. in uninterrupted order.

BLIGH. 1788.

Captain William Bligh put into Adventure Bay with his Majesty's ship
_Bounty_ in 1788, and with the _Providence_ and _Assistant_ in 1792; for
the purpose of obtaining wood and water. These were procured with
facility, as also plenty of fish; and many useful seeds and trees were
planted.

No discoveries being made here, beyond those of Furneaux and Cook, the
reader is referred to captain Bligh's _Voyage to the South Seas_, P. 45
to 54, for his observations on the country and inhabitants. There is,
however, one remarkable circumstance recorded of these people, which is,
that when presents wrapped up in paper were thrown to them, "they took
the articles out, and placed them on their heads;" a ceremony which is
similar to that recorded by _Witsen_, of the inhabitants on the east side
of the Gulph of Carpentaria.

COX. 1789.

The brig Mercury, commanded by JOHN HENRY COX, Esq., anchored at the
entrance of a deep bay on the south side of Van Diemen's Land, on July 3,
1789. This bay was then first discovered, and lies N. by W. ten miles
from the _Mewstone_.* The country was found to be agreeably interspersed
with hills and vallies, and some of the hills were luxuriantly clothed
with trees to their very summits. About four miles from the vessel, there
was a stream of fresh water; and close to it