(10)
1796
March       -chiefs. Our friends informed us, that they were not na-
Sunday     -tives of this place, but of Broken and Botany Bays; and
    27     from their having been at Port Jackson it was, that we under-
-stood some words of their language; but other natives soon came
up, and increased the number beyond what was safe to risk our-
-selves amongst; we therefore put off without landing, under
pretence of returning to the northward, but with the intention
to land in a shallow cove off the pitch of Saddle Point. The sea
had broken acroƒs this small cove whilst the sea breeze blew, but
was now smooth.
      We here got some provisions ^ ^cooked – most of our clothes dried, – and
everything put into some little order; but it was not long before
the two natives came upon the point to look after us, and espying
us thus busied close under them, came down.
        As this cove would not be tenable when the sea breeze
should set in, we inquired concerning the places of shelter in
the neighbourhood; and learned, that at a small distance to the
southward, was a fresh-water river. The imprudence of return-
-ing towards Port Jackson without having the barica filled with
fresh water, together with the appearance of a northerly sea breeze,
induced us to accept of the offer which the natives made of con-
-ducting us to the river.
      The sea breeze freshened up from the northward, and we
steered before it, according to the direction of our pilots; who a-
-mused us by the way with stories of some white men and two
women