Oftober The like caufes of detention Rill operating, on friday the Jah a party was
i m a d e for the further examination of Oyftei Harbour, and by a little ex-
n ay 7‘ curfion into the country, on that fide to acquire fome information o f its
natural productions, and, if poflible alfo, of the natives. After examining
the channel as we proceeded to the upper part o f the harbour,
our attention was directed to feveral large black fwans in very ffiately
attitudes fwimming on the water, and, when flying, difcovering the under
parts of their wings and breafi to be white: this is all the defcription
we were enabled to give of them, fince they were exceflively Ihy, and we
very indifferent markfmen. In the northern corner o f the harbour, we
landed near a rivulet ilavigable only for canoes and fmall boats. It meandered
in a northern direction between the hills, which opening to the
eaft and weft, prefented a fpacious plain with foreft trees occupying
the banks of the rivulet, and the fides of the hills, even to their very
fummits. We proceeded about a league by the fide of the rivulet,
which flowed through fo dead aJflat, that its motion was fcarcely perceptible,
and continued to be brackilh, although in its paflage it received
feveral other fmaller ftreams of moft excellent water. In it were an
abundance of very fine filh, and on its banks were many black fwans,
ducks, curlews, and other wild fowl. On the fides of this ftream, as well
as on the (hores in Oyfter Harbour, were feen the remains of feveral filh
wears, about eight or nine inches high, evidently the. forry ! contrivance
of the wretched inhabitants o f the country: fome of thefe were con-,
ftrufted with loofe Hones, others with flicks, and ftumps of wood ; but
none of them were likely to be of much utility at this feafon, as feveral
were placed nearly at, and others above, what now feemed the high-
water mark; but we fuppofed at times, when the rain or other caufe
Ihould extend the rivulet beyond its prefent bounds, which in width did
not exceed thirty yards, and in depth four or five feet, thefe humble
contrivances might arreft fome fmall filh. Great bodies of water evidently
pals down this ftream at certain feafons, as appeared by the river’s courfe
occupying from two to three hundred yards on each fide the rivulet, the
foil of which was compofed of fea fand and broken Ihells, and was deftitute
o f any vegetable production. This fpace when overflowed mull, from its
winding
winding courfe, form a moft beautiful Iheet of water. The wears for the >79>-
taking filh, and fteps made in the bark for the purpofe of afcending fome ■ - " - “ T
of the largeft trees, though both exceflively rude, were undoubtedly the
effeéts o f manual labour, and, with the huts, formed the only indications
o f the country being inhabited, that we were able to difcern. There
were no paths in the woods, nor were any fmokes to be feen over the
extenfive country we beheld, which fully- fatisfied us, that any further
fearch for the natives would be fruitlefs; and therefore we returned by a
different route to the boats. In our way we faw the -remains o f two
fimilar huts. Near thefe was an ants neft much of the fame lhape and
magnitude, though finilhed in a very fuperior ftyle and manner, and
Ihewing how very humble is the ftate o f human existence, when unaflifted
by civil fociety, and undtreCled by the fciences. Having eaten our fait
beef we proceeded homewards, much mortified that the many wild fowl
we had feen had efcaped our vigilance; but that we might not return
empty handed, we Hopped at one of the oyfter banks, where in about
half an hour we loaded our boat, and returned on board about g o’clock
in the evening. The bank on which we found them in greateft plenty
and the beft flavoured, is that which extends from the north or low point
of the entrance towards the little verdant ifland. The wind blew a ftrong
gale from the e . s . e . and a very heavy fea ran without the found; but the
veflels within rode perfectly quiet. This fort of weather, with much rain,
continued until monday, when we entertained hopes of getting to lea, as Monday 10.
the wind veered to the fouth; but foon again refuming its former direction,
attended by the heavy fea in the offing, we remained at anchor until
the next day; which being more favourable to our purpofe, though the Tucfday n.
wind was Hill adverfe, we weighed, and turned out of the found. About
4 in the afternoon, we regained the ocean ; but the wind at,e . n . e . prevented
our fleering along the coaft, and obliged us to Hand to the fouth-
eaftward. Whilft we were getting under weigh, I caufed to be depofited
in the hut at the watering place, fome beads, knives, looking-glaffes, and
other trinkets, as a compenfation to its folitary owner, Ihould he ever return,
for the wood we had cut down, and deprived him o f : and to
commemorate our vifit, near the flump of one of the trees we had felled;
in