RICH^D PICKERSGILL is the signature to what is called "A Logg of ye Proceedings, &c." He was master's mate for the ship. After stating on April 28:-- "Moor'd in Sting ray Bay," it adds: "April 29. At 3 the Cap^n &c went ashore and were opposed on landing by 2 of the Nat^s whom they were obliged to sting with small shot which frighted them into y^e woods." On May 4 he notes "striking Stingerrays." "May 5, 1770--_Stingerray Bay_ lies in Lat^d 34·06 S & Long^d W^t of Long^d on 20·43. It is form'd by two Low P^ts between which their is a passage of one mile with 12 f^ms water on the E^t side lies a Little Island and off y^e S^o end of it is a Shore where the Sea some times Breaks after you are in the Bay spreads and tends to y^e w^t ward for about 6 or 7 Miles and then ends in two large Lagoons off the S^o shores lies large flats with only 6 & 7 feet water upon them is a great Quantity of Stingerrays the Bay is very Shole but there is a Channel which lies open to y^e entrance with 5 and 6 f^m water, but after you are two miles within it sholes to 3 the Bay is about 4 Miles Broad and has a regular tide. The Country is very rich and fertile and has a fine appear^ce we saw a large tree which grows allone and yealds a Gum like Dragons Blood this we found in great Quantitys sticking to y^e Bark the Tree on which it grows is very large & spreads, but does not grow Stright nor tall besides we saw a wood which has a grain like oak and would be very durable if used for Building the leaves are like a Pine leaf the Soil is a light sandy black earth mix'd but is very shallow upon digging we found vast Quantitys of Oyster Shells which seem'd to have been underground a great while We also found a Tree which bore a red berry about y^e size of a Cherry, but they grew only in one Place--the inhabitants are so shy that we had no kind of Intercous with them they us'd to come down every evening arm'd with Lances and wooden Swords they appeard very thin and had their faces Daub'd over with some thing white one day as the Surgeon was walking in the woods which is all clear of under wood he had a Lance hove at him out of a tree but the man made of this was all we saw of them except when they were fishing off in their canoes which are very small & made of Bark they carry one man who paddles with two small pieces of wood they use them in striking fish on y^e flats their Houses are several Pieces of Bark sett up against an other & open at each end and are the worst I ever saw the people have nothing to cover themselves but go quite naked men & women, and are the most wretched sett I ever beheld or heard of."