Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/429

 Rh this being the same season, we were disappointed in not obtaining any. On the return of the boat, she was placed in some danger from the number of whales, of the fin-back species, that were sporting about the surface of the water, and occasionally leaping out of it, and lashing the sea with their enormous fins.

On the 30th, having hitherto carried on our occupation without seeing or hearing any thing of the natives, whilst I was busily employed with Mr. Roe in observing the sun's meridional altitude, I happened on locking round to espy five natives standing about forty or fifty yards off among the high grass, watching our movements. As soon as they perceived we had discovered them, they began to repeat the word itcheuo (friend) and to pat their breasts, thereby intimating that their visit had no hostile motive. As the sun was rapidly approaching its meridian, I called Mr. Bedwell from on board to amuse them until our observations were completed. The only weapons they appeared to carry were throwing sticks, which we easily obtained in exchange for some grains of Indian corn.

A few words were obtained by Mr. Cunningham, which served to confirm many we had possessed ourselves of last year; and which, being afterwards compared with the vocabulary of the