yet every year's experience proved
that the expectations entertained of its importance and benefits were
vastly over-rated, and in consequence it was at last abandoned. In the
opinion of Collins, Van Diemen's island presents in every respect a
more advantageous spot for a settlement.--E.

[3] "They continued from time to time to ask if we were displeased
with them, and seemed to be very apprehensive that our present
protestations of friendship were not quite sincere. We suspected from
this circumstance, that a fatal misunderstanding had happened between
the natives and the crew of some European ship, and we naturally
thought of our consort the Adventure."--G.F.

[4] The natives were repeatedly questioned, and in every conversation
we discovered some additional circumstances, by which the fact was
more clearly established. At last, however, observing that our
enquiries on this subject were frequently repeated, they resolved to
give us no further trouble, and by threats stopped short one of their
own brethren, who had been prevailed upon to speak once more on the
subject. Captain Cook being very desirous of obtaining some certainty
concerning the fate of the Adventure, called Peeterre and another
native into the cabin, both of whom denied that any harm had been done
to the Europeans. We made two pieces of paper, to represent the two
ships, and drew the figure of the sound on a larger piece; then
drawing the two ships into the sound, and out of it again, as often as
they had touched at and left it, including our last departure, we
stopped a while, and at last proceeded to bring our ship in again: But
the natives interrupted us, and taking up the paper which represented
the Adventure, they brought it into the harbour, and drew it out
again, counting on their fingers how many moons she had been gone.
This circumstance gave us two-fold pleasure, since, at the same time
that we were persuaded our consort had safely sailed from hence, we
had to admire the sagacity of the natives. Still, however, there was
something mysterious in the former accounts, which intimated that some
Europeans were killed; and we continued to doubt whether we had
rightly understood this part of their conversation, till we received
more certain intelligence at our return to the Cape of Good Hope."--
G.F.

[5]