The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. I. Being the First of the First Voyage.Cook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. I. Being the First of the First Voyage.
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
On the 25th, I made another excursion along the coast, in the pinnace,
towards the mouth of the inlet, accompanied by Mr. Banks and Dr.
Solander, and going on shore at a little cove, to shoot shags, we fell
in with a large family of Indians, whose custom it is to disperse
themselves among the different creeks and coves, where fish is to be
procured in the greatest plenty, leaving a few only in the hippah, to
which the rest repair in times of danger. Some of these people came out
a good way to meet us, and gave us an invitation to go with them to the
rest of their party, which we readily accepted. We found a company of
about thirty, men, women, and children, who received us with all
possible demonstrations of friendship: we distributed among them a few
ribands and beads, and, in return, received the kisses and embraces of
both sexes, both young and old: they gave us also some fish, and after a
little time we returned, much pleased with our new acquaintance.
In the morning of the 26th, I went again out in the boat, with Mr. Banks
and Dr. Solander, and entered one of the bays, which lie on the east
side of the inlet, in order to get another sight of the streight, which
passed between the eastern and western seas. For this purpose, having
landed at a convenient place, we climbed a hill of a very considerable
height, from which we had a full view of it, with the land on the
opposite shore, which we judged to be about four leagues distant; but as
it was hazy in the horizon, we could not see far to the south-east: I
resolved, however, to search the passage with the ship, as soon as I
should put to sea. Upon the top of this hill we found a parcel of loose
stones, with which we erected a pyramid, and left in it some musket
balls, small shot, beads, and other things, which we happened to have
about us, that were likely to stand the test of time, and, not being of
Indian workmanship, would convince any European who should come to the
place and pull it down, that other natives of Europe had been there
before him. When this was done, we descended the hill, and made a
comfortable meal of the shags and fish which our guns and lines had
procured us, and which were dressed by the boat’s crew in a place that
we had appointed: in this place we found another Indian family, who
received us, as usual, with strong expressions of kindness and pleasure,
showing us where to procure water, and doing us such other good offices
as were in their power. From this place we went to the town of which the
Indians had told us, who visited us on the 19th; this, like that which
we had seen before, was built upon a small island or rock, so difficult
of access, that we gratified our curiosity at the risk of our necks. The
Indians here also received us with open arms, carried us to every part
of the place, and showed us all that it contained: this town, like the
other, consisted of between eighty and an hundred houses, and had only
one fighting-stage.
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