The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World, Vol. III. Being the First of the Second VoyageCook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World, Vol. III. Being the First of the Second Voyage
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
After restoring the sportsmen to their boat, we all proceeded
for the ship, which we reached by seven o’clock in the morning, not a
little fatigued with our expedition. I now learned that our friends the
natives returned to their habitation at night, probably foreseeing that
rain was at hand; which sort of weather continued the whole of this day.
On the morning of the 15th, the weather having cleared up and become
fair, I set out with two boats to continue the survey of the N. W. side
of the bay, accompanied by the two Mr. Forsters and several of the
officers, whom I detached in one boat to Goose Cove, where we intended
to lodge the night, while I proceeded in the other, examining the
harbours and isles which lay in my way. In the doing of this, I picked
up about a score of wild fowl, and caught fish sufficient to serve the
whole party; and, reaching the place of rendezvous a little before dark,
I found all the gentlemen out duck-shooting. They, however, soon
returned, not overloaded with game. By this time, the cooks had done
their parts, in which little art was required; and after a hearty repast
on what the day had produced, we lay down to rest; but took care to rise
early the next morning, in order to have the other bout among the ducks,
before we left the cove.
Accordingly, at day-light, we prepared for the attack. Those who had
reconnoitered the place before, chose their stations accordingly; whilst
myself and another remained in the boat, and rowed to the head of the
cove to start the game; which we did so effectually, that, out of some
scores of ducks, we only detained one to ourselves, sending all the rest
down to those stationed below. After this, I landed at the head of the
cove and walked cross the narrow isthmus that disjoins it from the sea,
or rather from another cove which runs in from the sea about one mile,
and lies open to the north winds. It, however, had all the appearance of
a good harbour and safe anchorage. At the head is a fine sandy beach,
where I found an immense number of wood-hens, and brought away ten
couple of them, which recompensed me for the trouble of crossing the
isthmus, through the wet woods, up to the middle in water. About nine
o’clock, we all got collected together, when the success of every one
was known; which was by no means answerable to our expectations. The
morning, indeed, was very unfavourable for shooting, being rainy the
most of the time we were out. After breakfast, we set out on our return
to the ship, which we reached by seven o’clock in the evening; with
about seven dozen of wild-fowl, and two seals; the most of them shot
while I was rowing about, exploring the harbours and coves which I found
in my way; every place affording something; especially to us, to whom
nothing came amiss.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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