Page:Early voyages to Terra Australis.djvu/239

 OF THE VP:RGUL1)E DllAECK, ETC. ,83

On the 9th, a fire on shore was aj^aiu seen and answered with a signal of three guns, and the boat was launched with a crew of nine hardy men and the steersman, provisioned for eight days ; on their approach the smoke or fire disappeared, whereujDon they returned on board. This fire was at a dis- tance of two miles from the former one. Nine signal-guns were then fired from the ship, and afterwards three at night. A light was also hung aloft during the night, but no signs were observed on land.

On the 10th, the boat was again sent ashore, and a large fire again seen on the beach, at the same j^lace as on the pre- vious day, upon which a gun was fired every hour from the ship and a flag hoisted. About two hours elapsed before the boat could reach the shore. Fires at four different points were again seen from the ship during the night, one of which continued burning throughout the night, and seve- ral musket-shots were fired.

The boat's crew related that they had come across three huts, and had encountered five persons of tall stature and im- posing appearance, who made signs to them to approach ; this, however, from distrust of their intentions, they did not venture to do. On their returning again to the boat these people followed them down to the beach, but were afraid to enter the boat. Much brushwood was seen on shore by this party, and in some places crops of growing grain which they set fire to, also portions of land under cultivation ; no fruits, however, were noticed, but merely a few herbs of an agree- able smell. Further inland they saw neither fresh water nor trees, but numerous sandy downs; at night also many fires. After having gone three miles along the shore as well as inland without meeting any misadventure, they again pro- ceeded with the ship under sail, but saw no signs of any- thing remarkable along the coast from latitude 33° 30' to 30° 25'. There they went again on shore with the same result. This prolonged investigation proved altogether fruit-