State Library of NSW
[Page 263]
259 May 1770. Botany bay
Like those we were upon. While we were employd in this walk the people hawld the Seine upon a sandy beach & caught great plenty of small fish. on our return to the ship we found also that our 2nd lieutenant who had gone out striking had met with great success he had observd that the large sting rays of which there are abundance in the bay followd the flowing tide into very shallow water he therefore took the opportunity of flood & struck several in not more than 2 or 3 feet water; one that was larger than the rest weigh'd when his gutts were taken out 239 pounds. our surgeon who had strayd a long way from the people with one man in his company in coming out of a thicket observd 6 Indians standing about 50 yards from him one of these gave a signal by a word pronouncd loud on which a lance was thrown out of the wood at him which however came not very near him The 6 Indians on seeing that it had not taken effect ran away in an instant but on turning about towards the place from whence the lance came he saw a young lad who undoubtedly had thrown it come down from a tree where he had been Stationd probably for that purpose he descended
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