kale, fell in with four natives broiling a bird and part of a kangaroo at a fire. The man, who was unarmed, had the presence of mind to dissemble his fears, and sat down beside them in apparent good humour. They examined his clothes, hands, and face; but treated him with great civility, and afterwards directed him on his way to the ship. Little could be made of the language of these people; but they were wont to express surprise, by exclaiming, chercau, or cher, tut, tut, tut, tut!
After much time spent in selecting the best channel, and waiting for a fair wind, our navigators, on saturday, August 4th, sailed from the harbour that had so long sheltered them, and which they called Endeavour River. They might have named it Mercy River, in commemoration of their merciful deliverance, and the many mercies here experienced. The journal of the voyage records, that on July 1st, being sunday, the men had liberty to go on shore. That day should have been observed as a day of thanksgiving for their almost miraculous preservation; and doubtless many of them must have been sensible of the special protection which they had enjoyed, and their deep obligations to a merciful Providence.
