English in
the reign of William the Third, we next hear of Dampier in 1699, in
command of the _Roebuck_, a king's ship fitted out for a voyage to
examine the coasts of New Holland and New Guinea. She carried twelve
guns and a crew of fifty men, with provisions for twenty months, but was
old and crazy. She sailed from the Downs on the 14th of January, and
after touching at the Cape de Verdes, shaped a course round the Cape of
Good Hope. On the morning of the 2nd of August the mainland of New
Holland was seen, but no anchorage being found, and bad weather coming
on, she was obliged to stand off until the 5th, when she again stood in,
and brought up in Shark's Bay. Among the animals Dampier saw on shore
was one he describes as a sort of raccoon, differing from that of the
West Indies chiefly as to the legs, for these have very short fore legs,
but go jumping on the hind ones as the others do. This probably is the
first description given of the small kangaroo of New Holland. He
mentions different sorts of blossoming trees of several colours, but
mostly blue, and smelling very sweet and fragrant. There were also
beautiful and variegated flowers growing on the ground. The great want
was for water, and for this a long search was made at different parts of
the coast. At length a boat was sent ashore with an armed party
carrying pickaxes and shovels. Three natives were seen, who retired;
but when they observed the men beginning to dig, a large number
collected, and with angry gestures ordered the strangers to begone.

At length, Dampier, accompanied by an active fellow, went forward to try
and conciliate them; but still they kept aloof. Being anxious to
capture one who might show them water, the commander allowed his
companion to try and run one of them down. On being overtaken, they
faced about, threatening their pursuer and Dampier with their spears.
The former, though armed with a cutlass, was unable to keep them at bay,
and Dampier, to save his life, was compelled to fire over their heads.
The savages, seeing no harm was done, only uttered the words, "Pooh,
pooh!" On this Dampier again fired, and one native fell, enabling the
sailor to escape. Dampier on this turned back with his men, abandoning
his attempt to capture a native, and being very sorry for what had
happened. One only of the party, who appeared to be the chief, had his
face painted with white pigment, to make him look more fierce.

In vain search