Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/173

 ors o AUSTaSL. 113 and retired to some distance to await our pro- lSlS. ceedings. On pn!lin�wards the woman, who, My by the way, could not have been selected by them ' either for her youth or beauty, she frequently repeated the words "Ven aea,. Ven aca," accom- panied with an invitation to land; but, as we ap- proached, she retired towards the shore; when suddenly two natives, who had slowly walkel towards us, sprang into the water and made towards the boat with surprising celerity, jump- ing at each step entirely out of the sea, although it was so deep'as to reach their thighs: Their intention was evidently to sieze the remaining tomahawk which I had been endearouting to exchange for the stand, and the foremost had reached within two or three yards of the boat, when I found it neccessary, in order to prevent his approach, to threaten to strike him with a wooden club, which had the desired effect. At this moment one of the natives took up the stand, and upon our pointing at him, thej appeared to comprehend our object; a consul- tation was held over the stand which waz minutely examined; but, as it was mounted with brass and, perhaps on that account, ap- peared to them more valuable than a tomahawk, they declined gving it up, and gradually. dis- persed; or, rather, pretended so to do, tbr a Vo. [. I

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