[Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia by Phillip Parker King]@TWC D-Link book
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia

CHAPTER 6
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They then peremptorily insisted that our people should retire, and leave their clothes behind them, but this being again refused, they became highly enraged, and running off to a little distance made a stand, and threw a spear which passed between three of our people, and broke in the ground: seeing that it had not taken effect, another spear was thrown which also fell harmless.

At this moment the muskets arrived, and were fired over their heads, upon which they started off at full speed, and were quickly out of sight.

The report of the muskets soon brought us to the spot, and being informed of the circumstance, I became alarmed for Mr.Cunningham's safety, who was alone on an excursion; but as his route was known, Mr.Bedwell and Mr.Roe set off with six men to protect his return; in this they were fortunately successful, having met him about two miles off, just as he was about to take a path that would have led him among the natives; who, had they seen him, would certainly have revenged themselves for their previous defeat and disappointment.

They met him in the morning as he was going out, and as they knew the direction in which he went they would certainly have way-laid him.
Nothing more was heard of the Indians during the day, but this rupture made us more watchful.

A sentry was appointed on shore to protect the carpenters, and at night four of our people slept close at hand: during the day a masthead watch was kept to prevent surprise, for the grass about us was so high that they might have approached unperceived and wounded some of our people before we could have been aware of their presence.
Our work however proceeded without molestation, and the only inconvenience experienced was the confinement of Mr.Cunningham to the vicinity of the tent.
July 2 to 4.
We saw no natives until Sunday the 4th when two, whose faces were not familiar to us, came down to the end of the dry sand opposite the cutter and beckoned for us: they had paddled across from the mangroves at the back of the port to the low sandy point that forms the west end of the long north sandy beach, behind which they had left their canoe.


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