people instantly set about, clipping them close with, scissars.
NoMeeing any of these, people painted,, as is the custom of the
'Sydpey natives, I was desirous: o f haowiagrif they wél® addicted
to i t ; I accordingly got some red paint, which as soon as one
of theni saw,he immediately made signs for me to'rub his nose
withf it. About our Settlements they areoftengeen with their
ht^es painted with a red gum, which is ^ e n ty thereabouts;t and
they lifeewise form a eirclénearly round their eyeS -with a
wMtiÄ ®lay.' The lattei it is said is customary to be used by
way of mourning for the death of a friends They- likewise paint
themselves when they go out to fight. The women also paint
their noses red, and their breasts with a streak of red and white
alternately. Having occasion to leave the deckfor a whife, on
my return, I observed one of‘ my young. men, 4who-had eon-
trived to get hold of some of the vesselY paint-pettS,) very deliberately
minting the roan whose nose I had robbed with led
paint, with different colours from head to foot, while he grinned
his approbation at the motley appearance he made. His comrades
seemed to enjoy it as much as he did, and thby Quitted
the vessel in great glee. This circumstance may by some be
thought unworthy of notice, but I relate it merely to shew their
disposition and customs, of which I shall have occasion to speak
more fully hereafter.
The place we came to anchor abreast of, being a fine-sa»dy
beach, favourable for hauling the seine, -Mr. Bäreillier accompanied
me on shore armedv We took Euranabie, the Sydney
native, with usjkï On our landing the natives gathered round Its,
appearing to have no fear of us. They began a conversation
with Euranabie, using many words which seemed to resemble the
Sydney-dialect, such as Baii, s i g n i f y i n g a n d ManÊi,'to take
azmyy ’m carry oß. Jin elderly man made Euranabie a present
of a wwddie,. orclub, which I supposed was done to shew a particular
ticular regard. To my great surprize he soon afterwards came
up to m® with evident marks of ;fear depicted in his countenance.
. On being . asked; the cause* of-his alarm, he solicited
permissiontago on board the vessel, as these natives would kill
m i patter, that is, eat Mm. I confess! rather, doubted this assertion,
1 for I had not the smallest idea of the blew Hollanders
being Cannibals ; nor can I even now take it upon me to-say
they- are,- though some- circumstances, wljieh I shall presently
mention, make it appear probable.; To relieve the poor fellow
from bis apprehensions, I immediately sent him on board. This
Conduct surprized' note not adittlo^ for h e had been anxious-to
come on shdfè with me j but I observed from this time, as long
as he remained here, he. never again offered to accompany me,
th o u ^H k d liilhB countrymen he was fond of ramblmgv-’
j We hauled th e seine; in doing which the natives, who Were
very numefousyassisted us unsoleited. We caught a few large
wkitiïig^, > differing in no particular from those WC have .in our
seas, exieöptmg their superior size. I distribu ted them amongst
the ndtivfes, reserving’ only three for <our own dinner^ • Many
more having joined us who- seemed anxious to get some fish also,
I hauled the seine again ; and having? caught more-whitings and
Small snappers, I gave up the wholeWathout division, nOt wishing
to excite any jealöutey, and this I found put an end to all
clamour^ v. Their number- Was so- considerable, and had by: this
time so much encreased, th a t! began to think that many were
e»CCafed amongst the ■ bushes: but as they seemed pleased,
and began dancing and shouting, I had nO fear of. their proceeding
to hostilities'. They were all perfectly-naked^- except
©ne< young fellow, who had a bunch- pfigra-ss fastened round his
waist, which Came up behitfddifcfi’tke tail of a kangaroo. He
was active, and- as far as I could judge from his gestures had a
degree of humour; he Would throw himself into a •'thousand
antic