The Seaforthia Palm
Raised Its Elegant Crown Far Above The Patches Of Vine Brush Which We
Passed At The River Side Of The Ridges.
After a delay of two hours, we again started, and travelled in a due
south direction towards some thick smoke rising between two steep and
apparently isolated rocky hills:
They were about four miles distant, and,
when we arrived at their base, we enjoyed the pleasing sight of large
lagoons, surrounded with mangrove myrtles (Stravadium), with Pandanus,
and with a belt of reeds and Nelumbiums. Man, horse, and bullock, rushed
most eagerly into the fine water, determined to make up for the privation
and suffering of the three last days. The lagoons were crowded with
geese, and, as the close vegetation allowed a near approach, Brown made
good use of the few slugs that were still left, and shot ten of them,
which allowed a goose to every man; a great treat to my hungry party.
Dec. 5. - I determined upon stopping for a day, to allow our cattle to
recover. Every body was anxious to procure geese or flying-foxes; and,
whilst three of my companions went to the flying-fox camp which we had
visited yesterday, loaded with ironstone pebbles for shot, and full of
the most sanguine expectations, Brown was busy at the lagoons, and even
Mr. Roper stirred to try his good luck. The two met with a party of
natives, who immediately retreated at sight of Mr. Roper; but during the
afternoon they came to the other side of the lagoon opposite to our camp,
and offered us some fish, a Silurus (Mao) and a tench (?) which they had
speared in the lagoons. I made a sign for them to come over and to
receive, as presents in exchange, some small pieces of iron, tin
canisters, and leather belts; which they did; but they became exceedingly
noisy, and one of them, an old rogue, tried to possess himself quietly
and openly of every thing he saw, from my red blanket to the spade and
stew-pot. I consequently sent Brown for a horse, whose appearance quickly
sent them to the other side of the lagoon, where they remained until
night-fall. Brown offered them half a goose, which, however, they
refused; probably because it was not prepared by themselves, as they were
very desirous of getting some of the geese which we had not yet cooked.
Brown had shot nine geese, and our fox hunters returned with forty-four
of the small species.
When the natives became hungry, they ate the lower part of the
leaf-stalks of Nelumbium, after stripping off the external skin. They
threw a great number of them over to us, and I could not help making a
rather ridiculous comparison of our situation, and our hosts, with that
of the English ambassador in China, who was treated also with Nelumbium
by its rich Mandarins.
The natives seemed to speak a less melodious language, which might be
ascribed to the mountainous character of their country.
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