nearly forgotten his English at
first, but Mr. Watson afterwards made out that he belonged to the
Stedcombe schooner, the crew of which were all murdered by the natives
while engaged in watering their vessel. He had been ten years on the
island, during which time he had been well treated by his captors.

The brig was obliged to stand off and on, as there is no anchorage off
Oliliet during the south-east monsoon, which had now set in; but two
boats were sent on shore to obtain supplies.

CONDUCT OF THE NATIVES.

They were well received by the natives, and again visited the village,
where they were surprised to find that all the women came out to see
them. All, both young and old, were dressed in a dark coloured wrapper,
which reached from the waist to the knees, and on their ankles they wore
a profusion of bright brass ornaments. The boats were not very successful
in procuring stock, but the chiefs promised an abundant supply in the
morning, which I determined to wait for, and accordingly worked to
windward under easy sail during the night, but found at daylight that we
had been sent so far to the southward by a current, that it was 10 A.M.
before we were again near enough to send the boats in.

On landing they found all their chiefs, and a considerable number of the
natives waiting on the beach with vegetables, etc. for sale. But they had
hardly commenced their barter, when a powerful looking man, armed with a
large iron-headed spear, in a state of intoxication, came rushing down
from the village; he made directly for the crowd upon the beach,
apparently with the intention of attacking our party; but the natives
immediately closed upon him, and after some trouble disarmed him; after
which he continued to rush about the crowd in a violent state of
excitement, running against any of our party he could see, and making
urgent signs to them to leave the shore.

At the same time the noise and confusion on the beach was so great, that
the officer in charge of the party prepared to return on board at once,
in order to avoid any collision with the natives. As soon as the chiefs
became aware of his intention, they were most anxious he should remain,
and made every profession of friendship to induce him to do so; but he
had heard so much of their treachery from the traders at Arru that he
resisted their entreaties, and returned on board at half-past eleven.

ARRIVE AT PORT ESSINGTON.

As soon as the boats were hoisted up,