Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/130

 74 SRVm' OF THE IN'ITOPICAL bay to the S.E. of Sims' Island had not beefi s,,tciently seen by us, we steered off so as to reconnoitre the proas, and improve the survey at the same time. As soon as we had reached the island, all the vessels but one had anchored, and their crews were busily engaged in passing to and from the shore in small canoes, apparently watering. We passed by at a small distance with our colours flying, which was answered by each hoisting a Dutch jack; but one of the proas, which was thought to be the Rajah's vessel, bore a blue flag in d.difion. Some stragglers on the rocks, who appeared to take no part in th labours of the rest, and who were probably the chiefs, waved rep.eatedly to us to stop; but as their acquaintance could render us no service, I clined their invitations. Our presence did not appear to have excited any particular bustle amongst them, but every precaution was taken on our part to repel any attack. The proas, Which were fifteen in number, appeared to be of twenty-five to forty tons burden, and the fleet contained altogether at least three hundred men. The evening was too far advanced to make any particular examination of the sinuosities of the bay; but, after passing Sims' Island, our court_ Was sufficiently hoar the coast to

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