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The weeds, which here grow upon rocky ground, are very remarkable ; they appearabove the .furface in eight and nine fathoms water; the leaves are four feet inlength, and many of the flalks, though not more than an-inch and a half in circumference,above one hundred. Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander having been on fhore fome hours,returned with more than a'hundred different plants and flowers, hitherto unnoticed bythe European botanifts.
Sunday 15th, having anchored in twelve fathoms water, upon coral rocks, beforea fmall cove, diftant from fhore about a mile, two of the natives came down upon thebeach, in expe&ation that they would land ; but this fituation affording little fhelter,-the captain got under fail again, and the natives retired.
About two o’clock they anchored in the bay of Good Succefs, and the captain went onfhore, accompanied by Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander, to fearch for a watering-place, andconfer with the Indians. Thefe gentlemen proceeded about a hundred yards before thecaptain, when two of the Indians having advanced forward and feated themfelves, theyrofe, upon Mr. Banks and the doctor’s coming up, and each of them threw away afmall flick, which they had before in their hands ; this they did in fuch a direction, thatthe flick flew both from themfelves and the ftrangers, which they meant as a token ofpeace, and a teflimonial of their renouncing weapons; they then returned brifklytowards their companions, who had remained at fome diflance behind, and made fignsto the ftrangers to advance, which they accordingly complied with. The reception thegentlemen met with was friendly, though the manner was uncouth. The civility wasreturned, by the diftribution of beads and ribbons, with which the Indians were muchpleafed. After a mutual confidence had been thus eftablifhed, the reft of the Englifhparty joined, and a general converfation, though of a Angular kind, enfued. Threeof the Indians now returned with the captain and his friends to the fnip, whom theycloathed with jackets, and gave them bread, jerked beef, &c. part of which they eat,and carried the remainder on fhore. They refufed - to drink rum or brandy, aftertailing them, intimating by figns that it burnt their throats. One of them Hole thecovering of a globe, which he fecreted under his cloak. After flaying near two hourson board they went on fhore. They were of a middle flature with broad flat faces, lowforeheads, high cheeks, nofes inclining to flatnefs, wide noflrils, fmall black eyes, largemouths, fmall but indifferent teeth, and black flraight hair, falling down over theirears and forehead, which was commonly fmeared with brown and red paint; and, likeall the original natives of America , they were beardlefs. Their garments were thefkins of guanicos and feals, which they wrapped round their fhoulders. The womenhave a fmall firing tied round each ancle, and wear each a flap of fkin round the mid-dle. They carry the children on their backs, and are generally employed in domefticlabour and drudgery.
Mr. Banks , Dr. Solander, Mr. Buchan, and feveral other gentlemen, accompaniedby fervants, went a confiderable way into the country, where they had marfhy ground,and very cold blafls of wind and fnow, to contend with ; however, after great fatigue,they at laft attained a confiderable eminence they had in view. Here they found agreat variety of plants, that gratified their curiofity, and repaid them for their toil.
It was now near eight o’clock in the evening, and Dr. Solander, who knew fromexperience that extreme cold, when joined with fatigue, occafions a drowfinefs that isnot eafily refilled, intreated his friends to keep in motion, however difagreeable itmight be to them ; his words were, “ Whoever fits down, will fleep; and whoeverfleeps, will wake no more.” Every one feemed accordingly armed with refolution j
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