CAPTAIN COOK ’S FIRST VOYAGE. 533

But when the Indians on fhore heard the particulars related by Tojava, who greatlycondemned the conduct of the deceafed, they feemed to think that he merited his fate.His name proved to be Otirreeoonooe.

This tranfaftion happened, as has been mentioned, whilft the obfervation was mak-ing of the tranfit of Mercury, when the weather was fo favourable that the wholetranfit was viewed without a cloud intervening. Mr. Green made the obfervation ofthe ingrefs, whilft Captain Cook was engaged in afcertaining the time, by taking thefun’s altitude. In confequence of this obfervation having been made here, this bay wascalled Mercury Bay.

On the 10th, Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander, and the Captain, went in boats to infpedl alarge river, that runs into the bay. They found it broader fome miles within than at. the mouth, and interfered into a number of ftreams, by feveral fmall iflands, whichwere covered with trees. On the eaft fide of the river the gentlemen fhot fome fha'gs,which proved very good eating.

The Indians fup before fun-fet, when they eat fifti and birds baked or roafted. Afemale mourner was prefent at one of their fuppers ; fhe was feated upon the ground,and wept iriceffantly, at the fame time repeating fome fentences in a doleful manner,but which Tupia could not explain ; at the termination of each period fhe cut herfelfwith a fhell upon her breaft, her hands, or her face; notwithftanding this Ihockingbloody fpectacle greatly affe&ed the gentlemen prefent, yet all the Indians faw it withindifference.

November 1 ith, great plenty of oyfters were procured from a bed which had beendifcovered, and they proved exceedingly good. Next day the fhip was vifited by twocanoes, with unknown Indians ; after fome invitation they came on board, and they alltrafficked without any fraud.

They failed from this bay, after taking poffeffion of it in the name of the King ofGreat Britain on the 15th of November. A number of iflands, of different fizes,appeared toward the north-weft, which were named Mercury Iflands. On account ofthe number of oyfters found in the river, the captain gave it the name.of Oyfter river.The inhabitants, though numerous, have no plantations;, their canoes are very indiffe-rently conftrucled, and are no way ornamented.

Upon this fhore iron fand is in plenty to be found, which proves that.there are minesof that metal up the country, it being brought down by a rivulet from thence.

On the 18th, in the morning, the Endeavour fleered between the main,.and anifland which feemed very fertile, and as extenfive as Ulietea. Many canoes filled withIndians came along fide, and the Indians fung their war fong ; the Endeavour’s peoplepaying them no attention, they threw a volley of ftones, and then paddled away ; butthey prefently returned and renewed their infults. However, upon a mufquet beingfired at one of their boats, they made a precipitate retreat.

In the evening they call anchor in twenty-three fathom water, and early the nextCorning they failed up an inlet. The Endeavour was now in a bay, called by theNatives Ooahaouragee, and Captain Cook, with Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander, &c. wentIrt the boats to the bottom of the bay to examine it, and they did not return till nextmorning. At the entrance of a wood they met with a tree ninety-eight feet high fromthe ground to the firft branch, quite ftraight, and nineteen feet in circumference ; andthey found ftill larger trees of the fame kind as they advanced into the wood. Thecaptain called this river Thames , being not unlike our river of that name.

fhe fhip, at their departure was furrounded with canoes, which induced Mr. Banks to remain on board, that he might trade with the Indians. Though the traders, were

honed: