Indeed it was but putting ourselves on a par with them, as I had
observed from the first, that some youths of their own, though
considerably older than the one with us, were, kept back by the grown
people.
Several more now came up, to whom, we made various presents, but our
toys seemed not to be regarded as very valuable; nor would they for a
long time make any returns to them, though before we parted, a large
club, with a head almost sufficient to fell an ox, was obtained in
exchange for a looking-glass. These people seemed at a loss to know
(probably from our want of beards) of what sex we were, which having
understood, they burst into the most immoderate fits of laughter,
talking to each other at the same time with such rapidity and
vociferation as I had never before heard. After nearly an hour's
conversation by signs and gestures, they repeated several times the word
whurra, which signifies, begone, and walked away from us to the head of
the Bay.
The natives being departed, we set out to observe the country, which,
on inspection, rather disappointed our hopes, being invariably sandy and
unpromising for the purposes of cultivation, though the trees and grass
flourish in great luxuriancy.
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