Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/60

6 1817. Dec. 26.

and it was not until they had reached some distance that they answered his call in loud shrill voices. After some time spent in a parley, in which Boongaree was spokesman on our part, sometimes in his own language, and at others in broken English, which he always resorted to when his own failed in being understood, they withdrew altogether, and we neither heard nor saw any thing more of them.

27.

The next morning, the wind being easterly, we left the bay. On passing Red Point, twenty or thirty natives came to the extreme point of the cliff, shouting and hallooing and making violent gestures; a large group of women and children appeared in the back ground, timidly concealing themselves behind the trees and bushes; another party was quietly seated round small fires on the rocks near the sea-beach, apparently engaged in cooking their fish; and at a little distance from the last group, two canoes were hauled upon the rocks.

The breeze being fresh from the N.N.E., we made rapid progress; and at three o'clock p.m., rounded Cape Howe, with every prospect of passing through Bass' Strait before the wind should again veer to the westward. In passing Cape Howe, we observed large fires burning