off, from a jealoufy of fome of the gentlemen, who were examining it.

On the 12th, three Indians vifited Tupia's tent, and after remaining fome time, went for two others, whom they introduced by name. Some fish was offered them but they feemed not much to regard it; after eating a little they gave the reft to Mr. Banks's dog. On the 14th, Mr. Gore fhot one of the animals above-mentioned. It chanced to be a young one, weighing more than 38 pounds; but when they are full grown, they are as large as a fheep. The fkin of this beaft, which is called Kangaroo, is covered with fhort fur, and is of a dark mouse-colour; the head and ears are somewhat like thofe ofa hare; this animal was dreffed for dinner, and proved to be fine eating. The fhip's crew fed on turtle almost every day, finer than thofe eaten in England, owing to their being killed before their natural fat was wafted, and their juices changed.

On the 17th, Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander went with the captain into the woods, and faw four Indians in a canoe who went on fhore, and walked up without fign of fear. They accepted fome beads, and departed, intimating, that they did not chufe to be followed: The natives being now become familiar with the fhip's crew, one of them was defired to throw his lance, which he did, with fuch dexterity and force, that though it was not above four feet from the ground at the higheft, it penetrated deeply into a tree at the diftance of 50 yards. The natives now came on board. the hip, and were well pleafed with their entertain

ment.

On the 19th, we faw feveral of the women, who, as well as the men, were quite naked. We were this day vifited by ten Indians, who feemed refolved to have one of the turtles that was on board, which they repeatedly made figns for, and being as repeatedly refused, they expreffed the utmoft rage and refentment, one of them in particular having received a denial from Mr. Banks, he ftamped and pushed him away in a N 2

moft

moft violent manner. At length they laid hands on two of the turtles, and drew them to the fide of the fhip where the canoe lay, but the failors took them away. They made feveral fimilar attempts, but being equally unfuccefsful, they leaped fuddenly into theig canoe, and rowed off. At this inftant the captain, with Mr. Banks, and five of the feamen, went on thore, were many of the crew were employed. One of the Indians fnatched a fire brand from under a pitch kettle, and running to the windward of what effects were left on fhore, fet fire to the grafs, which burned rapidly, fcorched a pig to death, burned part of the fmith's forge, and would have deftroyed a tent of Mr. Banks's, but fome people came from the fhip just time enough to get it out of the way of the flames. In the mean while the Indians went to a place where the fifhing nets lay, and a quantity of linen was laid out to dry, and there again fet fire to the grafs, in fpite of all perfuafion, and even of threats. A mufket loaded with fmall fhot was fired, and one of them being wounded, they ran away, and this fecond fire was extinguifhed; but the other burned far into the woods.

The Indians ftill continued in fight, a musket was fired with ball, the report only of which fent them out of fight but their voices being heard in the woods, the captain with a few people went to meet them. Both parties flopped when in fight of each other; at which time an old Indian advanced, and fpoke aloud to his companions, who placed their lances against a tree, ⚫ and came forward in a friendly manner. When they came up to us, we returned the darts we had taken, and perceived with great fatisfaction, that this rendered the reconciliation complete. Having received from us fome trinkets, they walked amicably towards the coaft, intimating by figns, that they would not fire the grafs again.

On the 20th, our fhip being ready for fea, the mafter was fent in fearch of a paffage to the northward,

but could not find any; while the captain founded and buoyed the bar. This day we faw not any Indians, but the hills for many miles were on fire, which, at night, made an appearance truly fublime.

On the 24th, one of the failors, who, with others, had been fent to gather kale, having ftrayed from the reft, fell in with four Indians at dinner. He was at first much alarmed, but had prudence enough to conceal his apprehenfions: and fitting down by them, gavę them his knife, which having examined, they returned. He would have left them, but they feemed difpofed to detain him, till, by feeling his hands and face, they were convinced he was made of flesh and blood like themselves. They treated him with great civility, and having kept him about half an hour, they made figns that he might depart. When he left them, not taking the direct road to the fhip, they came from the fire and fhewed him the nearest way; from whence we concluded, that they knew from whence he came.

Mr. Banks having gone on fhore in fearch of plants, found the cloth that had been diftributed among the natives, lying in a heap, as ufelefs lumber. Indeed they seemed to fet very little value upon any thing we had, except our turtle, a commodity we were leaft inclined and able to spare.

On the 29th we got the anchor up, and made all ready to put to fea. A boat was fent out to afcertain what water was upon the bar; when returned, the officer reported, that there was only 13 feet. which was fix inches less than the fhip drew. We therefore this day gave up all hopes of failing. On the 30th we had fresh gales and hazy weather, till Tuesday the gift at three in the morning, when the weather became more moderate. During all the time the pinnace and yawl continued to ply the net and hook with tolerable good fuccefs, bringing in at different times a turtle, and from 2 to 300 weight of fish.

HOUSE

*OXFORD*

LIBRARY

On

On the 4th of Auguft, we once more got under fail, and put to fea. We flood off E. by N. with the pinnace a-head to keep founding. About noon we came to an anchor, when the harbour from whence we had failed bore S. 70 W. diftant about five leagues. The captain here named the northernmost point of land in fight of Cape Bedford, and the harbour we had quitted, Endeavour River. Our lat. by obfervation was 15 deg. 32 min. S.

Endeavour River is only a fmall bar harbour, which runs in a winding channel, three or four leagues in land. The depth of water for fhipping is not more than a mile within the bar, and only on the north fide. The provifions we procured in this harbour confifted of turtle, oysters of different forts, cavalhe, flat ́fish, skate, or ray fish, purflain, wild beans, and cabbage palms. The foil of the hills, though ftony, produces coarse grafs, befides wood, that of the vallies is, in general, well clothed, and has the appearance of fertility. The trees are of various forts, of which the gum trees are the most common. On each fide of the river are mangroves, which, in fome parts, extend a mile within the coaft.

On the 4th, Capt. Cook went up to the maft-head to look at fome dangerous fhoals, feveral of which we faw above water. This day fuch a quantity of fith was caught, as allowed a dividend of two pounds to each man. During the fix following days we attempted to fail between the fhoals and breakers, by which we were every way furrounded. On the 10th we were between a head land and three island, which had been difcovered the preceeding day.

On the 11th, early in the morning, Mr. Banks and Capt. Cook went to vifit the largest of the three iflands, and having gained the fummit of the largeft hill, they beheld a reef of rocks, whereon the fea broke in a frightful manner; but the hazy weather preventing a perfect view, they lodged under a bufh during the

night, and next day seeing what had the appearance of a channel between the reefs, one of the mates was fent out in the pinnace to examine it; and at noon returned, having found 15 and 28 fathom of water. While busy in his furvey, Mr. Banks was attentive to his favourite purfuit, and collected many plants he had not feen before. This island visible at 12 leagues diftance, and in general barren, we found to be about 8 leagues in circumference. There are fome fandy bays and low-land on the N. W. fide, which is covered with long grafs, and trees of the fame kind with those on the main ; lizards of a very large fize alfo abounded, fome of which we took. We found alfo fresh water in two places; one running ftream, clofe to the fea, was a little brackish; the other was a ftanding pool perfectly {weet.

On our return to the fhip, the captain named this place the Lizard Iflands, on occount of our having feen no other animals but lizards. When returning, we landed on a low fandy ifland, upon which were birds of various kinds. We took a neft of young eagles and therefore called the place Eagle Island.

On the 12, the officers held a confultation, and we were unanimous in opinion, that it would be best to quit the coaft altogether, till we could approach it with lefs danger; in confequence of which concurrent opinion, we failed on the 13th, and got through one of the channels in the reef, happy at finding ourselves once more in the open fea, after having been furrounded by dreadful fhoals and rocks for near three months. We now failed above 1000 miles, during which run we had been obliged to keep founding, without the intermiffion of a single minute; a circumstance which, it is fuppofed, never happened to any one fhip but the Endeavour.

On the 4th we anchored, and by obfervation, our lat. was 13. deg. 46 min. S. and at this time we had no land in fight. On the 15th we fteered a wefterly

course,