166 ?RVEY OF 'FILE INFERTROPICAL ?s?0? as at one time to endanger-'the boat's upsetting; say ?o. but fortunately we escaped with only the'loss of an oar; a_ier contending for some time against the tide, which was ebbing with great strength, we landed on the south side; when we were met by five natives, who had been watching us all the morning, and had not been backward in their invitations and entreaties for us to land. At first they kept aloof until approached by Lieu- tenant Oxley, whom they soon reeognised: after a short interview, in which they appeared to place the greatest confidenoe in all our movements, we aseended the hill to observe the channel over the �bar; the water of which was so clear, that the deepest part was easily seen. As this was the principal object: we did not delay longer on shore than was necessary, and upon our return sounded the depth of water upon the bar and in the chan- nel, the particulars of which are detailed upon the plan of the harbour. Ii. The next morning the two vessels were warped into the port; and, by eleven o'clock, were an- chored within a few yards of the south shore, and ?ecured to trees near the beach, dose to a fresh water stream which ran into the sea. ? The following day we pulled three or four miles tip the river; on the way up two na- tives were seen in a canoe, but on our
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