The Life of Captain James Cook, the CircumnavigatorKitson, Arthur
History
The Life of Captain James Cook, the Circumnavigator
Kitson, Arthur
Cook, James, 1728-1779; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Geographers -- Great Britain -- Biography
Running closely along the coast, they hauled round Cape Colville into
"the Entrance of a Straight, Bay or River," and anchored for the night,
and in the morning they stood on along the east side. Canoes came off,
and from the behaviour of the occupants, some of whom came on board at
the first invitation, it was judged that favourable accounts had been
heard of the ship. After running about 5 leagues the water shoaled to
about 6 fathoms, and the ship anchored, and boats were sent out to sound.
No great increase of depth being found, the pinnace and long-boat went up
a river about 9 miles away, and on account of a fancied resemblance named
it the Thames. They landed at a village near the mouth, being well
received, but desiring to take advantage of the flood-tide which ran "as
strong as it does in the River Thames below bridge," they made no stay;
they went up about 14 miles, and then, finding little alteration in the
appearance of the country, landed to inspect some large trees of a kind
they had previously noticed. One was carefully measured, and was found to
be 19 feet 6 inches girth at 6 feet from the ground, and, by means of
Cook's quadrant, 89 feet to the lowest branch. It was perfectly straight,
and tapered very slightly, and some were seen that were even larger. This
was the Black Pine; to the Maoris, Matoi, and to the naturalist,
Podocarpus.
On the way down the river their friends of the morning came out and
"traffick'd with us in the most friendly manner imaginable, until they
had disposed of the few trifles they had." When the boats got outside
they had to anchor, as a strong tide and breeze were against them, and
they did not reach the ship till next morning, when the breeze had
increased to a gale, and topgallant yards had to be struck. When the wind
dropped, what was left was against them, and the Endeavour would only go
with the tide, so Cook took a run ashore to the west side of the bay, but
saw nothing of interest, and concluded it was but sparsely inhabited.
Whilst he was away natives went off to trade and behaved remarkably well,
with the exception of one man who was caught making off with the
half-hour glass, so Mr. Hicks had him triced up, and he was given a dozen
lashes. When it was explained to his friends why this was done, they
expressed their approval, and on his release an old man gave him another
thrashing.
The weather now became very unsettled, and they were not able to keep as
near the coast as they desired, but on 26th November some cultivated
spots were seen, and several canoes came off.
"Some of the natives ventur'd on board; to two, who appeared to be
chiefs, I gave presents. After these were gone out of the ship, the
others became so Troublesome that in order to get rid of them, we were at
the expense of two or three Musquet Balls and one 4 pound shott, but as
no harm was intended them, none they received, unless they happened to
overheat themselves in pulling ashore."
A STAMPEDE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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