During this time, a few of the Indians who had not followed the boat remained on the rocks opposite the ship, threatening and menacing with their pikes and swords: two in particular, who were painted with white, their faces seemingly only dusted over with it, their bodies painted with broad strokes drawn over their breasts and backs, resembling much a soldier's cross-belt, and their legs and thighs also with broad strokes drawn round them, like broad garters or bracelets. Each of these held in his hand a wooden weapon about 2½ feet long, in shape much resembling a scimitar; the blades of these looked whitish, and some thought shining, insomuch that they were almost of opinion that they were made of some kind of metal; but I thought they were only wood smeared over with the white pigment with which they paint their bodies. These two seemed to talk earnestly together, at times brandishing their crooked weapons at us, as in token of defiance. By noon we were within the mouth of the inlet,[1] which appeared to be very good. Under the south head of it were four small canoes, each containing one man, who held in his hand a long pole, with which he struck fish, venturing with his little embarkation almost into the surf. These people seemed to be totally engaged in what they were about: the ship passed within a quarter of a mile of them, and yet they scarcely lifted their eyes from their employment. I was almost inclined to think that, attentive to their business and deafened by the noise of the surf, they neither saw nor heard her go past.
We came to an anchor abreast of a small village consisting of six or eight houses. Soon after this an old woman, followed by three children, came out of the wood: she carried several pieces of stick, and the children also had their little burthens. When she came to the houses, three younger children came out of one of them to meet her. She often looked at the ship, but expressed neither surprise nor concern: she then lighted a fire, and the four canoes came
- ↑ Botany Bay. It was Banks who, on his return to England, recommended the Government to form a penal settlement at this spot.
