during the night, drove both ſhips from their anchors and ran them aground in the mud. They, however, ſuffered no damage, and were eaſily ſet again afloat. It was ſurpriſing that they ſhould have thought themſelves ſecure with one ſmall anchor, but juſt moored in a muddy bottom, as this ſort of bottom affords very little hold till the anchor be ſunk to a conſiderable depth.
We only waited for a favourable wind to leave the harbour. During the whole day it was contrary, and in the night time it blew with great violence. Dauribeau, however, although we had ran aground only the night before, thought it ſufficient to moor a ſingle cablet; but his opinion was over-ruled by the reſt of the officers, who knew, from experience, the neceſſity of holding by the large anchor.
During our abode at the Cape of Van Diemen we had only ſeen the natives at at a conſiderable diſtance; thoſe who had obſerved us having always fled with great precipitation. Some of them left behind them their houſeheld utenſils, which gave us a very imperfect ſpecimen of their induſtry. Theſe were baſkets, clumſily conſtructed of the reeds known by the name of juncus acutus, and drinking veſſels, made of a large piece of fucus palmatus, cut into a circular form, and moulded into the ſhape of a purſe. We never found any
weapons
