ed low hills before
alluded to, as existing in this neighbourhood, rose upon our right as we
came up, and bore from our furthest North by West two miles; from the
highest part up the inlet in the south-west corner, east two miles.

The latter we found very tortuous, extending in a general direction south
nine miles. No events occurred worthy of any remark during our
examination, except one of a trifling character: the mosquitoes taking
advantage of the calm, between the high mangroves on the banks, attacked
us most cruelly, a circumstance we mention as trifling, as far as the
reader is concerned, but of great moment to us.

After completing the survey of the southern and western portion of this
harbour, we returned to the ship, where soon afterwards Captain Wickham
also arrived, having found Patterson Bay to be a good port. It trended in
south ten miles, and East-South-East the same distance, forming quite an
inner haven, which was named after Mr. Bynoe.

NATIVES ON A RAFT.

At the turning leading from the outer to the inner harbour they came
suddenly in view of a raft making across, a distance of three miles, on
which were two women with several children, whilst four or five men were
swimming alongside, towing it and supporting themselves by means of a log
of wood across their chests. On perceiving the boat they instantly struck
out for the land leaving the women on the raft. For some time the latter
kept their position, waiting until the boat got quite near, when they
gave utterance to a dreadful yell, and assuming at the same time a most
demoniacal aspect, plunged into the water as if about to abandon the
children to their fate.

MATERNAL AFFECTION AND FEAR.

Not so, however; despite the dreadful fear they appeared to entertain of
the white man, maternal affection was strong within them, and risking all
to save their offspring, they began to tow the raft with all their
strength towards the shore. This devotion on the part of the women to
their little ones, was in strong contrast with the utter want of feeling
shown by the men towards both mothers and children.

Captain Wickham now, no doubt to their extreme consternation, pulled
after the men, and drove them back to the raft. Some dived and tried thus
to escape the boat, while others grinned ferociously, and appeared to
hope, by dint of hideous grimaces--such as are only suggested even to a
savage by the last stage of fear--to terrify the white men from
appro