The next day, therefore, he went out with a small party, consisting altogether of twelve persons, and landed at the place where the men were killed.

After traversing the country for more than twenty miles, they arrived at the north shore of Botany Bay, without having met with one of the natives.
In this place, at length, they saw about twenty canoes employed in fishing: and when the fires were made, and the party encamped to pass the night upon the beach, it was fully expected that some of those in the canoes would have joined them, but not one appeared.

The next morning, though fifty canoes were drawn up on the beach, not a single person could be found belonging to them.

Governor Phillip had now determined to return to Port Jackson; but as he went, keeping for some time near the sea coast, he discovered a great number of the natives, apparently more than could belong to that district, assembled at the mouth of a cave.

The party was within ten yards of them before they were perceived, and the Governor had hardly time to make his people halt before numbers appeared in arms.