Page:Journal of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks.djvu/247

Rh a reddish-coloured stone or clay, the lower white. Beyond this the country appeared pleasant, with low smooth hills like downs. The captain thought it not necessary to proceed any farther on this side of the coast, so the ship's head was turned to the northward, and the cape thence called Cape Turnagain. At night we were off Hawke's Bay and saw two monstrous fires inland on the hills. We are now inclined to think that these, and most if not all the great fires that we have seen, are made for the convenience of clearing the land for tillage, but for whatever purpose they are a certain indication that where they are the country is inhabited.

20th. Several canoes followed us, and seemed very peaceably inclined, inviting us to go into a bay they pointed out, where they said was plenty of fresh water. We followed them in, and by eleven came to an anchor. We then invited two, who seemed by their dress to be chiefs, to come on board; they immediately accepted our invitation. In the meantime those who remained in the canoes traded with our people very fairly for whatever they had in their boats. The chiefs, who were two old men, the one dressed in a jacket ornamented after their fashion with dog skin, the other in one covered almost entirely with some tufts of red feathers, received our presents, and stayed with us till we had dined.

21st. At daybreak the waterers went ashore, and soon after Dr. Solander and myself did the same. There was a good deal of surf upon the beach, but we landed without much difficulty. The natives sat by our people, but did not intermix with them. They traded, however, for cloth chiefly, giving whatever they had, though they seemed pleased with observing our people, as well as with the gain they got by trading with them; yet they did not neglect their ordinary occupations. In the morning several of their boats went out fishing, and at dinner-time all went to their respective homes, returning after a certain time. Such fair appearances made Dr. Solander and myself almost trust them; we ranged all about the bay and were well repaid by finding many plants, and shooting some most beautiful birds. In doing