CAPTAIN COOK ’S FIRST VOYAGE* 557
In confequence of this refolution, on the 3d of September, the captain, accompaniedby Meffrs. Banks and Solander, and attended by the boat’s crew and Mr. Banks’sfervant, fet out in the pinnace; but when they came within two hundred yards of thefhore, the water was fo fhallow, that they were obliged to leave the boat to the careof two of the failors, and wade to land. They were no fooner clear of the water,than they faw feveral prints of human feet on the fand, below high water mark,whence it was evident that the natives had been very lately there.
Our adventurers were now near a quarter of a mile from the pinnace, when threeof the natives ran out of the woods, about one hundred yards beyond them, fhoutingin the moll violent manner. They inflantly ran towards our countrymen, the firft ofthe three throwing fomething out of his hand, which flew on one fide of him, burningin ihe fame manner as gunpowder, but making no noife, while the other two threwtheir lances. The Englilh now fired; when the natives Hopped, and call anotherlance, on which the mufquets were loaded with ball and again fired. The poorIndians now ran off with expedition, having moll probably been wounded in theunequal confliCl, Captain Cook and his companions, unwilling farther to injure thofewho could not originally have intended them any harm, retreated haftily to the boat,which having reached, they rowed abreall of the natives, who by this time were affem-bled to the number of about eighty. Their ftature was nearly the fame with that ofthe inhabitants of New South Wales , but their colour not quite fo dark. During thefurvey that was taken of them, they continued letting off their fires, a few at a time,in a kind, of regular platoons ; they were difcharged by means of a piece of Hick,almoft like a hollow cane, which being fwung fideways, produced fire and fmoke ex-actly iike that occafioned by the firing of fmall arms. The crew on board -the fhipfaw this ftrange phoenomenon, and thought the natives had fire-arms. The gentlemenhaving fatisfied their curiofity, by attentively looking at thefe people, fired fomemufquets above their heads, the balls from which being heard to rattle among thetrees, the natives deliberately retired. The lances which had been thrown foon afterthe gentlemen landed, were made of a reed, or bamboo cane, and the points weremade of hard wood, barbed in feveral places; it is imagined, that thefe lances weredifcharged by means of a throwing-ftick, as they flew with great fwiftnefs above fixtyyards.
The whole coafl of this country is low land, but clothed with a richnefs of treesand herbage which exceeds all defcription. The cocoa-nut trees were alfo verynumerous.
On the evening of the 9th, they faw what had.the appearance of land. The fhipHood off and on during the night, when a number of fires were feen upon the ifland,and the next morning fmoke was feen in feveral places, whence it was conjecturedthat the place was well peopled.
On the 16th, they had fight of the little ifland called Rotte ; and the fame day fawthe ifland Semau.
At ten o’clock this night a dull reddilh light was feen in the air.. This phoenomenon,^hich reached about ten degrees above the horizon, bore a confiderable refemblanceto the Aurora Borealis , only that the rays of light which it emitted had no tremulousmotion. It was furveyed for two hours, during which time its brightnefs continuednndiminilhed.
As the fhip was now clear of all the iflands which had been laid down in fuch mapsas were on board, they made fail during the night, and were furprifed the next morn-ing at the fight of an ifland to the weft-fouth-weft, which they flattered themfelves was
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