The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. II. Being the Second of the First VoyageCook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. II. Being the Second of the First Voyage
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
with as many as it would carry. I embarked, therefore, with only Mr.
Banks, Dr. Solander, Tupia, and four rowers: we pulled for that part of
the shore where the Indians appeared, near which four small canoes were
lying at the water’s edge. The Indians sat down upon the rocks, and
seemed to wait for our landing; but to our great regret, when we came
within about a quarter of a mile, they ran away into the woods. We
determined, however, to go ashore, and endeavour to procure an
interview; but in this we were again disappointed, for we found so great
a surf beating upon every part of the beach, that landing with our
little boat was altogether impracticable. We were therefore obliged to
be content with gazing at such objects as presented themselves from the
water. The canoes, upon a near view, seemed very much to resemble those
of the smaller sort at New Zealand. We observed, that among the trees on
shore, which were not very large, there was no underwood; and could
distinguish that many of them were of the palm kind, and some of them
cabbage trees: after many a wishful look we were obliged to return, with
our curiosity rather excited than satisfied, and about five in the
evening got on board the ship. About this time it fell calm, and our
situation was by no means agreeable. We were now not more than a mile
and a half from the shore, and within some breakers, which lay to the
southward; but happily a light breeze came off the land, and carried us
out of danger. With this breeze we stood to the northward, and at
day-break we discovered a bay, which seemed to be well sheltered from
all winds, and into which, therefore, I determined to go with the ship.
The pinnace being repaired, I sent her, with the master, to sound the
entrance, while I kept turning up, having the wind right out. At noon,
the mouth of the bay bore N. N. W., distant about a mile, and seeing a
smoke on the shore, we directed our glasses to the spot, and soon
discovered ten people, who, upon our nearer approach, left their fire,
and retired to a little eminence, whence they could conveniently observe
our motions. Soon after two canoes, each having two men on board, came
to the shore just under the eminence, and the men joined the rest on the
top of it. The pinnace, which had been sent a-head to sound, now
approached the place, upon which all the Indians retired farther up the
hill, except one, who hid himself among some rocks near the
landing-place. As the pinnace proceeded along the shore, most of the
people took the same route, and kept abreast of her at a distance. When
she came back, the master told us, that in a cove a little within the
harbour, some of them had come down to the beach, and invited him to
land by many signs and words, of which he knew not the meaning; but that
all of them were armed with long pikes, and a wooden weapon shaped
somewhat like a cimeter. The Indians who had not followed the boat,
seeing the ship approach, used many threatening gestures, and brandished
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