Page:Journal of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks.djvu/326

268 sail in the sun, kept them in this manner exposed the whole day, often turning them, and sometimes turning the quires in which were plants inside out. By this means they came on board at night in very good condition. During this time eleven canoes, in each of which was one Indian, came towards us: we soon saw that the people in them were employed in striking fish. They came within about half a mile of us, intent upon their own employments, and not at all regarding us. Opposite the place where they were several of our people were shooting: one Indian, prompted maybe by curiosity, landed, hauled up his canoe, and went towards them. He stayed about a quarter of an hour, and then launched his boat and went off. Probably that time had been spent behind the trees in watching to see what our people did. I could not find, however, that he was seen by anybody.

When the damp of the evening made it necessary to send my plants and books on board, I made a short excursion to shoot anything I could meet with, and found a large quantity of quails, much resembling our English ones, of which I might have killed as many almost as I pleased, had I given my time up to it; but my business was to kill variety, and not too many individuals of any one species. The captain and Dr. Solander employed the day in going in the pinnace into various parts of the harbour. They saw fires at several places, and people who all ran away at their approach with the greatest precipitation, leaving behind the shell-fish which they were cooking. Of this our gentlemen took advantage, eating what they found and leaving beads, ribands, etc., in return. They found also several trees which bore a fruit of the Jambosa kind, in colour and shape much resembling cherries. Of these they ate plentifully, and brought home also abundance, which we ate with pleasure, though they had little to recommend them but a slight acid.

4th. Myself in the woods, botanising as usual: now quite devoid of fear, as our neighbours have turned out such rank cowards. One of our midshipmen, straying by