Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 2.djvu/149

 SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 1]. dislsted with the sight of so horrible a repast, . and the intolerable stench oocasioned by the ef- fluvia that arose from the dying animal, com- bined with that of the bodies of the natives, who had daubed themselves from head to foot, with a pigment made of a red ochreous earth mix/t up with seal-oil. We then conveyed the natives, who had been waiting with great patienc in the boat foi our return, to the vessel, and permitted them to go on board. Whilst they remained with us, Mr. Baskerville took a man from each mess to the oyster-bank; here he was joined by an Indian carrying some spears and a throwing-stick, but on Mr. Baskervi]le's calling for a musket that was in the boat, (to the use of which they were not strangers,) he laid aside his spears, which probably were only carried for the purpose of striking fish, and assisted our people in collect- ing the oysters. As soon as they had procured a sufficient quantity, they returned on board, when as it was breakfast time, our visitors wire sent on shore, highly pleased with their reception, and with the biscuit and pudding which the people had given them to eat. They were very atten- tive to the mixture of a pudding, and a few small d.umplings were made and given to them, which

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