Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 2.djvu/82

 approached the shore, made signs of friendship, l). which the natives returned, and appeared quite unconcerned at our approach. On landing, we elirobed the rocks on which the two men were standing, when we found that the woman had walked away: upon our approach, they re- tired a few paces, sd evidently eyed us in a distrustful manner; but, as they had dropped  spears, aud repeated the sign of peace that we had made to them, we did not hesitate to walk towards them unarmed, desiring the boars' ctw to be prepared with the muskets, if called. When we joined them they had their spears poised ready to throw, but on our presenting them with some of the fish that we had caught the preceding evening they dropped their spears, aml immediately returned us something in ex- change; one gave a belt, made of opossum fur, to Bundell; and the other, the tallest of the two, gave me a club that he carried in his hand, a short stick about eighteen inches long, pointed at both ends. This exchauge of presents ap- peared to establish a mutual confidence between us, and, to strengthen it, I presented my friend with a clasped knife, after shewing him its use, the possession Of which appeared to give him great pleasure. By this time Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Bed.

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