Page:Journals of Several Expeditions Made in Western Australia.djvu/76

 November 26th.—We set out with both boats at half past 7 a.m.; ascended the nearest and last discovered river still farther, as has been already mentioned. The morning threatening rain, we put up a tent, and whilst we walked inland, the men were occupied washing. In the afternoon we proceeded up the harbour and examined the second entrance of the second river, and the eastern shore beyond it, where we found our former friends, the natives, still apparently more eager, if possible, of getting to us; we first, however, landed on the opposite shore, and left Mr. Cudlip, with one of the boats, to prepare supper; we returned in the other, and approached the shore as near as the shallows would permit—within 200 yards: we had a long and friendly communication with the natives, about thirty-five of whom, men and boys, came out to us. We had killed and caught several young swans, and they seemed highly delighted to get one; they appeared unwilling to part with their spears and knives, and to use considerable duplicity in bartering. Examined the northern part of the harbour, and found what we imagined to extend for many miles, to be shut in at a short distance by low land, at first swampy, and then covered with trees, which were continued as far as the eye could see from the highest sand hills. Soon after the boats landed for us to ascend the sand mounds, seventeen of the natives, whom we had seen yesterday, after rounding the southern boundary of the harbour, surprised us by their sudden approach; they remained, testifying satisfaction at the men, till we put off again; the general appearance of all whom we saw, is the same as that of those in the vicinity of Perth, but use different words significant of approbation; the language is perhaps considerably different; all their