1777- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 1/9 



been chosen for the accommodation of the other cattle; 

 and in such a situation, they could not possibly have 

 remained concealed many days. 



The morning of the 29th was ushered in with a 

 dead calm, which continued all day, and effectually 

 prevented our sailing. I therefore sent a party over 

 to the east point of the bay to cut grass; having been 

 informed that some of a superior quality grew there. 

 Another party, to cut wood, was ordered to go to the 

 usual place, and I accompanied them myself. We 

 had observed several of the natives, this morning, 

 sauntering along the shore, which assured us, that 

 though their consternation had made them leave us 

 so abruptly the day before, they were convinced that 

 we intended them no mischief, and were desirous of 

 renewing the intercourse. It was natural that I 

 should wish to be present on the occasion. 



We had not been long landed, before about twenty 

 of them, men and boys, joined us, without expressing 

 the least sign of fear or distrust. There was one of 

 this company conspicuously deformed; and who was 

 not more distinguishable by the hump upon his back, 

 than by the drollery of his gestures, and the seeming 

 humour of his speeches; which he was very fond of 

 exhibiting, as We supposed, for our entertainment. 

 But, unfortunately, we could not understand him; 

 the language spoken here being wholly unintelligible 

 to us. It appeared to me to be different from that 

 spoken by the inhabitants of the more northern parts 

 of this country, whom I met with in my first voyage? 

 w r hich is not extraordinary, since those we now saw* 

 and those we then visited, differ in many other re- 

 spects. * Nor did they seem to be such miserable 



* The most stiking difference seems to be with regard to the 

 texture of the hair. The natives whom Captain Cook met with 

 at Endeavour River in 1769, are said, by hini, to have naturally 

 long and black hair, though it be universally cropped short. In 

 general it is straight, but sometimes it has a slight curl. We sate none 

 that was not matted and Jilthy. Their beards were of the same 



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