State Library of NSW
[Page 124]
120 Totarra nue or Queen Charlots Sound
we came to an anchor about long cannon shot from the fort from whence 4 Canoes were immediately dispatchd to reconoitre I suppose & in case they were able to take us as they were all well armd the men in these boats were dressd much as they are represented in Tasmans figure that is 2 corners of the cloth they wore were passd over their shoulders & fastned to the rest of it Just below their breast but few or none had feathers in their hair they rowd round & round the ship defying & threatning us as usual & at last hove some stones aboard which we all expected to be a prelude of some behaviour which would oblige us to fire upon them but just at this time a very old man in one of the boats express'd a desire of coming on board which we immediately encouraged & threw a rope into his canoe by which she was immediately hawld up along side & the old man (contrary to the opinion of all the other Indians who went so far as to hold him fast for some time) came on board where he was receivd in as freindly a manner
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