Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/351

 examining several torrntwom.- gullies' .for it 18t. without success, we ascended a hill to-look stlr. round for.some more probable place; bht, as the same arid appearance seemed to pervade every part within our view, we re-embarked, and shortly landS. upon a. bluff point, at the. north.west end of 'the island; from'which a considerable' reet of rocks projects into the sea. Whilst I was employed in taking a st of bear ings from this station, the boat's crew amused themselves in wandering about the rocks in search of shells; and, upon our again embk- ing, they informed me that they had seen some natives on the beach of a sandy bay round the point; but that they had retired without having been noticed. The information proved correct; for,' on pulling round the point, we espied four natives seated'on the sand, watching the progress of a fire. they had just kindled; which Was ra- pidly spreading through, and consuming the dry and parched up grass that grew scantily upon the face of the island. gs soon as we were ob- served, three of them got up .and stood for some moments motionless with alarm; but, upon my calling to' them and waving my hat, the' whole party, seizing their spears, ran off, and it a few seconds disgppeared in the hollow behind the beach. On'the sand were marks of. ttirtles; which Vo. I. U

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