following day, however, they brought the satisfactory intelligence that the party we had seen were not enemies, but a part of a tribe with which we were on friendly terms, who had halted about thirteen miles on. Our messengers brought with them some fire-sticks, so that we were again able to make fires to cook our food—having, in our hasty flight, left ours behind us, at the place to which we now returned.
After some time, a messenger came to say the friendly tribe had found a great abundance of eels, in the lagoon near which they had encamped, and that they wished us to come and share in their good fortune. This is customary amongst those tribes who are friendly with each other; so we accepted the invitation and joined them that day. Being now in considerable strength, we did not fear attack, and it afterwards proved there was no occasion for apprehension, as the friends of the murdered native never sought revenge for the deed. Being in such excellent quarters, and in perfect safety—excepting occasional domestic quarrels—there was nothing to disturb the general tranquillity; and, consequently, I became daily more acquainted with their language and habits. By way of relieving the monotony of this narrative, I may as well, therefore, here relate a few particulars.
The natives inhabiting that part of the coast of New Holland, round Port Phillip, now known as the colony of Victoria, are generally of a middle stature, with a dark complexion; but not so dark as those of warmer latitudes. Their forms and features are not
