About the latter end of the month the natives adjusted some affairs of honour in a convenient spot near the brick-fields.  The people who live about the south shore of Botany Bay brought with them a stranger of an extraordinary appearance and character; even his name had something extraordinary in the sound—­Gome-boak.  He had been several days on his journey from the place where he lived, which was far to the southward.  In height he was not more than five feet two or three inches; but he was by far the most muscular, square, and well-formed native we had ever seen.  He fought well; his spears were remarkably long, and he defended himself with a shield that covered his whole body.  We had the satisfaction of seeing him engaged with some of our Sydney friends, and of observing that neither their persons nor reputations suffered any thing in the contest.  When the fight was over, on our praising to them the martial talents of this stranger, the strength and muscle of his arm, and the excellence of his sight, they admitted the praise to be just (because when opposed to them he had not gained the slightest advantage); but, unwilling that we should think too highly of him, they assured us, with horror in their countenances, that Gome-boak was a cannibal.*

[* Gome-boak, we learned, was afterwards killed among his own people in some affair to the southward.]

March.] On the 1st of March the Francis returned from Port Stephens.  Mr. Grimes reported, that he went into two fresh-water branches, up which he rowed, until, at no very great distance from the entrance, he found them terminate in a swamp.  He described the land on each side to be low and sandy, and had seen nothing while in this harbour which in his opinion could render a second visit necessary.  The natives were so very unfriendly, that he made but few observations on them.  He thought they were a taller and a stouter race of people than those about this settlement, and their language was entirely different.  Their huts and canoes were something larger than those which we had seen here; their weapons were the same.  They welcomed him on shore with a dance, joined hand in hand, round a tree, to express perhaps their unanimity; but one of them afterwards, drawing Mr. Grimes into the wood, poised a spear, and was on the point of throwing it, when he was prevented by young Wilson, who, having followed Mr. Grimes with a double-barrelled gun, levelled at the native, and fired it.  He was supposed to be wounded, for he fell; but rising again, he attempted a second time to throw the spear, and was again prevented by Wilson.  The effect of this second shot was supposed to be conclusive, as he was not seen to rise any more.  Mr. Grimes got back to his boat without any other interruption.

Mr. House in his way thither ran close along the shore, and saw not any shelter for a ship or vessel from Broken Bay to Port Stephens.  The schooner was only fourteen hours on her return.