Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/320

 s___s.. listening attentively it was again heard. It was Ag. 5. now our firm opiaion that we had landed in the iclnity of another tribe, who, upon seeing our fire had alarmed their companions. The musquets were thersfor placed in readi- ness, and a watch set to give our party warning if they approached. In the middle of the 'night. the noise was again heard, but, upon being re-' peated seveial times, it was discovered that we had been J deceived .by the screams of a bird, whose note exactly resembled the' human cry. Our fears of being attacked by the natives. beihg now dispelled, our party composed themselves again to rest but without obtaining any sleep, in consequence of the immense'swarms of mos- quitoes,'which buzzing about in incredible nm- bets were not to be kept from stinging us by ay measures we could devise. The tent was very soon deserted, and many other places were tried in vain; the only method at all successful, by which some respite was obtained, was by lying upon the ground within two feet of the blaze of the fire; the heat and smoke of which, with the danger of our clothes catching fire, were insignificant inconveniences compared with the mosquitoes' stings; and those only who placed themselves in this situation, obtained a few hours' 6. sleep. At daylight, bogrimed with dirt and