Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 2.djvu/145

 124 SURVEY OF ?HE'INIER?ROPICAL ll. formed of sand and decayed vegetable matter; v,e. . and clothed with a thicket of free plants in full flower, that would be much prized in any other plac2 than where they were. The initials of the names of some of our people were still very per- fect'upon the stem of.a large ban,/a grand/,, which, from being covered with its superb ttow- ers,' bore a magnificent and'striking appearance. ARer an absence of an hour, our two friends returned, when it appeared that they had been at their toilet, for 'their noses and faces had' evi- denfly 'been 'fresh smeared over with red ochre, which they pointed out to us as a great orna- ment; affording another proof that vanity is .in. herent in human nature, and not nerely the con- sequence of civilization. They had, however, put off the garments with which we had clothed them, and resumed their mantles. Each brought a-lighted fire-stick in his hand, intending, as we supposed, to make a fire, and to pass .the night near the vessel, in order to watch our intentions and movements. On returning on board, we desired the native who had teresa!ned behind to go ashore to his companions, but it was with great reluctance that he was persuaded to leave us. Whilst on board, our p.eople' ha/t fed him plentifully with biscu/t, yams, pudd/ag, tea, and grog, of wh/ch

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