But when I had washed and trimmed my hair and after I had
clothed myself from my own sea-chest Hartog declared me fit to become,
once more, his secretary.

I sat late that night with my comrades, to whom I recounted my
adventures, and when I reflected upon the dangers I had passed I could
scarcely contain my joy at my rescue from a fate worse than death.

CHAPTER V

THE VOYAGE CONTINUED

Dirk Hartog, convinced that he had discovered the continent known as
Terra Australis, determined now to seek the gold and gems which this
fabled land was said to contain. The "Endraght" was accordingly brought
to anchor near to the mouth of a river on the coast, and preparations
were made to explore the stream in one of the ship's boats for some
distance along its banks. In the course of the afternoon we attempted a
landing, but as the boat neared the shore a number of natives ran down
to the water's edge with spears in their hands, and with loud cries
forbade our progress. A present of some nails and beads thrown among
them seemed, for the moment, to produce a good effect, but on our
attempt to land being renewed the natives again showed signs of
opposition. Hartog endeavoured to make them understand that no injury
was intended, but his friendly advances met with no success. A musket
was then fired amongst them, which was replied to by a flight of
spears, but no damage was done on either side. One of the natives then
threw a stone at our boat, which was answered by a discharge of small
shot, which struck him in the legs, causing him to jump like one of the
hopping animals I had seen on the island. When we pointed our muskets
again he and his companions made off into the bush. We then landed,
thinking the contest at an end, but we had scarcely quitted the boat
when the blacks returned, carrying shields for their defence. They
approached us and threw spears, but with no result. Another musket shot
convinced them their shields were no protection against our firearms,
when they again disappeared.

We then walked up to the blacks' camp and examined with much curiosity
the primitive nature of their dwellings. Then, leaving some beads and
pieces of cloth in exchange for some spears, which we took away with
us, we returned to our boat, observing on our way several light canoes,
each made of a single piece of bark, bent and laced up at both ends.
In the evening two boats' crews were sent away fishing, and they caught
in two hauls