For some days past a number of whales were seen in the bay.  They were of the same kind as those we had generally met with before, having two blow-holes on the back of the head.

September.  Monday 1.

On the night of the 1st of September we observed for the first time signs of the natives being in the neighbourhood.  Fires were seen on the low land near Cape Frederick Henry, and at daylight we saw the natives with our glasses.  As I expected they would come round to us I remained all the forenoon near the wooding and watering parties, making observations, the morning being very favourable for that purpose.  I was however disappointed in my conjecture for the natives did not appear, and there was too great a surf for a boat to land on the part where we had seen them.

Tuesday 2.

The natives not coming near us, I determined to go after them, and we set out in a boat towards Cape Frederick Henry, where we arrived about eleven o’clock.  I found landing impracticable and therefore came to a grapnel, in hopes of their coming to us, for we had passed several fires.  After waiting near an hour I was surprised to see Nelson’s assistant come out of the wood:  he had wandered thus far in search of plants and told me that he had met with some of the natives.  Soon after we heard their voices like the cackling of geese, and twenty persons came out of the wood, twelve of whom went round to some rocks where the boat could get nearer to the shore than we then were.  Those who remained behind were women.

We approached within twenty yards of them, but there was no possibility of landing and I could only throw to the shore, tied up in paper, the presents which I intended for them.  I showed the different articles as I tied them up, but they would not untie the paper till I made an appearance of leaving them.  They then opened the parcels and, as they took the articles out, placed them on their heads.  On seeing this I returned towards them when they instantly put everything out of their hands and would not appear to take notice of anything that we had given them.  After throwing a few more beads and nails on shore I made signs for them to go to the ship, and they likewise made signs for me to land, but as this could not be effected I left them, in hopes of a nearer interview at the watering-place.

When they first came in sight they made a prodigious clattering in their speech and held their arms over their heads.  They spoke so quick that I could not catch one single word they uttered.  We recollected one man whom we had formerly seen among the party of the natives that came to us in 1777, and who is particularised in the account of Captain Cook’s last voyage for his humour and deformity.  Some of them had a small stick, two or three feet long, in their hands, but no other weapon.

Their colour, as Captain Cook remarks, is a dull black:  their skin is scarified about their shoulders and breast.  They were of a middle stature, or rather below it.  One of them was distinguished by his body being coloured with red ochre, but all the others were painted black with a kind of soot which was laid on so thick over their faces and shoulders that it is difficult to say what they were like.