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of his nofe: and indeed all the inhabitants of this place had their nofes bored, for thereception of fuch an ornament. Thefe people being quite naked, the captain gave oneof them an old foirt, which he bound round his head like a turban, inftead of ufing itto cover any part of his body. They fuddenly leaped into their canoe, and rowed off,from a jealoufy of fome of the gentlemen who were examining it. The canoe wasabout ten feet long, and calculated to hold four perfons; and when it was in foalloWwater they moved it by means of poles.
On the 14th, Mr. Gore foot one of the moufe-coloured animals above-mentioned.It chanced to be a young one, weighing no more than thirty-eight pounds ; but whenfull grown they are as large as a foeep. The Ikin of this beaft, which is calledkanguroo, is covered with foort fur,.and is of a dark moufe-colour ; the head and earsare fomewhat like thofe of a hare: this animal was drelfed for dinner, and proved fineeating.
The natives being now become familiar with the foip’s crew, one of them was de-fired to throw his lance, which he did with fuch dexterity and force, that though itwas not above four feet from the ground at the higheft, it penetrated deeply into a treeat the diftance of fifty yards. The natives now went on board the lhip, and were wellpleafed with their entertainment. On the 19th they faw feveral of the women, who,as well as the men, were quite naked. They were this day vifited by ten of thenatives, who feemed refolved to have one of the turtle that was on board, which theyrepeatedly made figns for, and being as repeatedly refufed, they expreffed the utmoftrage and refentment; and one of them, in particular, having received a denial fromMr. Banks , he ftamped, and pufoed him away in the moll violent manner. Mlength they laid hands on two of the turtles, and drew them to the fide of the foipwhere the canoe lay j but the failors took them away. They made feveral fimilarattempts, but being equally unfuccefsful they leaped fuddenly into their canoe, androwed off. At this inftant the captain, with Mr. Banks , and five or fix feamen, wentafoore, where they arrived before the Indians, and where many of the crew werealready employed. As foon as the Indians landed, one of them fnatched a fire-brandfrom under a pitch-kettle, and running to the windward of what effects were on fhore,fet fire to the dry grafs, which burnt rapidly, fcorched a pig to death, burnt part ofth efmith’s forge, and would have deftroyed a tent of Mr. Banks ’s, but that fome fail° rScame from the (hip juft in time to get it out of the way of the flames. In the interimthe Indians went to a place where the fifhing-nets lay, and a quantity of linen was lam■ out to dry, and there again fet fire to the grafs, in fpite of all perfuafion, and even otthreats. A mulket loaded with fmall foot was now fired, and one of them beingwounded, they ran off. This fecond fire was eafily extinguifoed, but the other bu rntfar into the woods.
The natives continuing ftill in fight, a mulket charged with ball was fired near them rupon hearing which, they foon got out of fight; but their voices being foon heard mthe woods, and feeming to come nearer, the captain, with a few of the men, wentmeet them. When they were in fight of each other, both parties Hopped, exceptold Indian, who advanced before the reft a little way, but foon halted, and fpeakmgfew words retreated to his brethren, and they all retired together. The Englifofeized fome of their darts, followed them about a mile, and then fat down, the Indiafitting about an hundred yards from them. The old man again came forward, havi !|in his hand a lance with a point. He Hopped and fpoke feveral times, on whichcaptain made figns of friendfoip. The old Indian now turned to his companions, ahaving fpoken to them, they placed their lances againft a tree, and came forward^ _