arrival at South
Cape, and were very anxious to avenge the man shot on board the _Mayri_.
They did not receive us heartily, and seemed inclined to be impudent, so
I thought it best, after giving one or two presents, to get quietly to
the boat and away. I may here say that in after-times these people were
very friendly, and helped us much in our work. We visited all round the
bay, returning to South Cape.

After getting a supply of water and fuel on board, we started again,
going east round Rugged Head to Farm Bay, and well up to the head of the
bay, anchoring opposite to Naroopoo. I landed, and soon had an admiring
crowd round me. I was dressed in white, with black leather boots.
Sitting on a verandah, some, more daring than others, would come up,
touch my shirt and trousers, bite their fingers, and run away. Again and
again this was done by the bold ones, who always eyed my boots. After
consultation, one old woman mustered courage, came up, touched my
trousers, and finally my boots. She was trembling all over, but horror
of horrors, to add to her fear, lifting my foot, I pulled my boot off;
she screamed and ran, some others setting out with her, and did not stop
until quite out of sight.

After visiting several villages, and finding that the bay was thickly
populated, I went on board. The following morning many canoes came
alongside, and on our getting up steam were much afraid. It was evident
they wanted to show us that they had confidence in us, but it was
difficult with the steam up, the snorting and general commotion on board
being so great. We warned them on getting up anchor to clear off. Why
should they? There was no sail, nor were we going to move. A commotion
aft, canoes with crews clearing away to a very safe distance. One canoe
hanging on is pulled under, a wild shout, a moment's silence, and then
there is a loud roar of laughter, when they see canoe and paddlers appear
astern at some distance. We rounded One Tree Point and could see no
entrance to a bay, just a few miles beyond, but since explored and named
Lawes Bay. Keeping on, we anchored outside of the Roux Islands, in a
fine safe harbour. Before leaving our friends at South Cape, they were
boasting of having visited some place on the coast, where, on showing
their large knives, the natives all left, they helping themselves to a
good many things.

We had some difficulty in getting a canoe to come alongside, and it was
not until we ha