Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/238

162 likewise. But even supposing there were no Harbours about this River, it is good anchoring in every part of it where the depth of Water is Sufficient, being defended from the Sea by a Chain of Large and Small Islands which I have named Barrier Isles, lying aCross the Mouth of it extending themselves N.W. and S.E. 10 Leagues. The S. end of these Islands lies N.E. 4½ Leagues from the N.W. point of the River, which I have named point Rodney; it lies W.N.W. 9 leagues from Cape Colvill, Lat. 36° 15′; Long. 184° 58′ W. The Natives residing about this River do not appear to be very numerous considering the great Extent of Country; at least not many came off to the Ship at one Time, and as we were but little ashore ourselves we could not so well judge of their numbers. They are a Strong, well made, active People as any we have seen yet, and all of them Paint their Bodys with Red Oker and Oil from Head to foot, a thing that we have not seen before. Their Canoes are large, well built and Ornamented with Carved work in general as well as most we have seen.

Saturday, 25th.—P.M., had fresh Gales at S.W., and Squally weather. We kept standing along Shore to the N.W., having the Main land on the one side and Islands on the other; our Soundings were from 26 to 12 fathoms. At ½ past 7 p.m. we Anchor'd in a Bay in 14 fathoms, sandy bottom. We had no sooner come to an Anchor than we caught between 90 and 100 Bream (a fish so called), this occasioned my giving this place the Name of Bream Bay. The 2 points which forms this Bay lie N. and S. 5 Leagues from each other. The Bay is every where pretty broad and between 3 and 4 Leagues deep; at the bottom of it their appears to be a fresh water River. The N. head of the Bay, called Bream head, is high land and remarkable on account of several peaked rocks ranged in order upon the top of it; it lies in the Lat. 35° 46′ S. and N. 41° W., distant 17½ Leagues from Cape Colvill. This Bay may likewise be known by some Small Islands lying before it called the Hen and Chickens, one of which is pretty high and terminates at Top in 2 peaks. The land between Point Rodney and Bream Head, which is 10 Leagues, is low and wooded in Turfs, and between the Sea and the firm land are white sand banks. We saw no inhabitants but saw fires in the Night, a proof that the Country is not uninhabited. At daylight A.M. we left the Bay and directed our Course along shore to the northward, having a Gentle breeze at S. by W. and Clear weather. A little after sunrise found the Variation to be 12° 42′ Easterly. At Noon, our Lat. by observation was 36°