early australian voyages-第23章
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t could find none； nor any houses； nor people； for they were all gone。 Then we turned again to the place where we landed； and there we dug for water。
While we were at work there came nine or ten of the natives to a small hill a little way from us； and stood there menacing and threatening us； and making a great noise。 At last one of them came towards us； and the rest followed at a distance。 I went out to meet him； and came within fifty yards of him； making to him all the signs of peace and friendship I could； but then he ran away； neither would they any of them stay for us to come nigh them； for we tried two or three times。 At last I took two men with me； and went in the afternoon along by the sea…side； purposely to catch one of them； if I could； of whom I might learn where they got their fresh water。 There were ten or twelve of the natives a little way off； who； seeing us three going away from the rest of our men； followed us at a distance。 I thought they would follow us； but there being for awhile a sand…bank between us and them； that they could not then see us； we made a halt； and hid ourselves in a bending of the sand…bank。 They knew we must be thereabouts； and being three or four times our numbers； thought to seize us。 So they dispersed themselves； some going to the sea…shore； and others beating about the sand…hills。 We knew by what rencounter we had had with them in the morning that we could easily out…run them； so a nimble young man that was with me； seeing some of them near； ran towards them； and they for some time ran away before him； but he soon overtaking them； they faced about and fought him。 He had a cutlass and they had wooden lances； with which； being many of them； they were too hard for him。 When he first ran towards them I chased two more that were by the shore； but fearing how it might be with my young man； I turned back quickly and went to the top of a sand…hill； whence I saw him near me； closely engaged with them。 Upon their seeing me； one of them threw a lance at me； that narrowly missed me。 I discharged my gun to scare them； but avoided shooting any of them； till finding the young man in great danger from them； and myself in some； and that though the gun had a little frightened them at first； yet they had soon learnt to despise it； tossing up their hands and crying； 〃pooh； pooh； pooh；〃 and coming on afresh with a great noise； I thought it high time to charge again； and shoot one of them； which I did。 The rest； seeing him fall； made a stand again； and my young man took the opportunity to disengage himself and come off to me； my other man also was with me； who had done nothing all this while； having come out unarmed； and I returned back with my men； designing to attempt the natives no farther； being very sorry for what had happened already。 They took up their wounded companion； and my young man； who had been struck through the cheek by one of their lances； was afraid it had been poisoned； but I did not think that likely。 His wound was very painful to him； being made with a blunt weapon； but he soon recovered of it。
Among the New Hollanders； whom we were thus engaged with； there was one who by his appearance and carriage； as well in the morning as this afternoon； seemed to be the chief of them； and a kind of prince or captain among them。 He was a young brisk man； not very tall； nor so personable as some of the rest； though more active and courageous： he was painted （which none of the rest were at all） with a circle of white paste or pigment （a sort of lime； as we thought） about his eyes； and a white streak down his nose； from his forehead to the tip of it： and his breast and some part of his arms were also made white with the same paint； not for beauty or ornament； one would think； but as some wild Indian warriors are said to do； he seemed thereby to design the looking more terrible； this his painting adding very much to his natural deformity； for they all of them have the most unpleasant looks and the worst features of any people that ever I saw； though I have seen great variety of savages。 These New Hollanders were probably the same sort of people as those I met with on this coast in my voyage round the world； for the place I then touched at was not above forty or fifty leagues to the north… east of this； and these were much the same blinking creatures （here being also abundance of the same kind of flesh…flies teazing them；） and with the same black skins； and hair frizzled； tall and thin； &c。 as those were： but we had not the opportunity to see whether these； as the former； wanted two of their fore…teeth。
We saw a great many places where they had made fires； and where there were commonly three or four boughs stuck up to windward of them； for the wind； （which is the sea…breeze）； in the day…time blows always one way with them； and the land…breeze is but small。 By their fire…places we should always find great heaps of fish…shells of several sorts； and it is probable that these poor creatures here lived chiefly on the shell…fish； as those I before described did on small fish； which they caught in wires or holes in the sand at low water。 These gathered their shell…fish on the rocks at low water but had no wires （that we saw）； whereby to get any other sorts of fish； as among the former I saw not any heaps of shells as here； though I know they also gathered some shell…fish。 The lances also of those were such as these had； however； they being upon an island； with their women and children； and all in our power； they did not there use them against us； as here on the continent； where we saw none but some of the men under head； who come out purposely to observe us。 We saw no houses at either place； and I believe they have none； since the former people on the island had none； though they had all their families with them。
Upon returning to my men I saw that though they had dug eight or nine feet deep； yet found no water。 So I returned aboard that evening； and the next day； being September 1st； I sent my boatswain ashore to dig deeper； and sent the seine within him to catch fish。 While I stayed aboard I observed the flowing of the tide； which runs very swift here； so that our nun…buoy would not bear above the water to be seen。 It flows here （as on that part of New Holland I described formerly） about five fathom； and here the flood runs south…east by south till the last quarter； then it sets right in towards the shore （which lies here south…south…west and north north… east） and the ebb runs north…west by north。 When the tides slackened we fished with hook and line； as we had already done in several places on this coast； on which in this voyage hitherto we had found but little tides； but by the height； and strength； and course of them hereabouts； it should seem that if there be such a passage or strait going through eastward to the great South Sea； as I said one might suspect； one would expect to find the mouth of it somewhere between this place and Rosemary Island； which was the part of New Holland I came last from。
Next morning my men came aboard and brought a runlet of brackish water which they had got out of another well that they dug in a place a mile off； and about half as far from the shore； but this water was not fit to drink。 However； we all concluded that it would serve to boil our oatmeal； for burgoo； whereby we might save the remains of our other water for drinking； till we should get more： and accordingly the next day we brought aboard four hogsheads of it： but while we were at work about the well we were sadly pestered with the flies； which were more troublesome to us than the sun； though it shone clear and strong upon us all the while very hot。 All this while we saw no more of the natives； but saw some of the smoke of some of their fires at two or three miles distance。
The land hereabouts was much like the port of New Holland that I formerly described； it is low； but seemingly barricaded with a long chain of sand…hills to the sea； that lets nothing be seen of what is farther within land。 At high water the tides rising so high as they do； the coast shows very low： but when it is low water it seems to be of an indifferent height。 At low water…mark the shore is all rocky；
