Browse the documents Browse the documents Search
Advanced search
The Flinders papersletters and documents about the explorer Matthew Flinders (1774-1814)
 
You are here: Flinders > Browse the Documents > Documents > Documents
 
All pages | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | Back to Index

Narrative of expeditions along the coast of New South Wales, for the further discovery of its harbours from the year 1795 to 1799. Collected by Matt w Flinders 2 lieutenant H.M.S. Reliance (FLI09a) Page 13


                                (13)
1796         the more timid, were alarmed at a double-jawed instru-
March       -ment coming so near to their noses, and could scarce-
Sunday     -ly be persuaded by their shaven friends to allow the operati-
    27     -on to be finished; but when their chins were held up a second
time, their fear of the instrument, – the wild stare of their
eyes, – the smile which they forced; – formed a compound upon
the rough, savage countenance, not unworthy the pencil of a
Hogarth. I was almost tempted to try the effect of a snip on
the nose; but our situation was too critical to admit of such
experiments.
      Having completed every thing, as far as circumstan-
-ces would admit of, we got our things into the boat, and prepared
to go out again. But to get away peaceably, we were obliged to
use deceit; for they kept continually pointing to the lagoon, and
desiring, or indeed almost insisting, that we should go up into
it; and the two Port-Jackson natives seemed more violent than
any others. We appeared to coincide with them, but deferred
it till tomorrow; and pointed to a green bank near the en-
-trance of the river, where we would sleep; then putting on a
resolute face, we shoved off the boat. Most of them followed us,
the river being very shallow, and four jumped in. The rest took
hold of the boat and dragged her along down the stream, shouting
and singing. We shouted and sung too, though our situation
was far from being pleasant.
      On coming to the green bank, they brought us to the shore, and
those in the boat leaped out: one of them with a hat on, but which
he returned on being asked. Some of them still kept hold, to
prevent


All pages | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | Back to Index
View Print Friendly Version


Related people
Bass, George
Flinders, Matthew

Places
Port Jackson

Vessels
Reliance

Related Documents
Other documents written by Flinders, Matthew