52 cook's first voyage jan. 



had seen from the tops of the lower hills was not 

 more than a mile before them ; but when thev had 

 got about two-thirds over this woody swamp, Mr. 

 Buchan, one of Mr. Banks's draughtsmen, was un- 

 happily seized with a fit. This made it necessary for 

 the whole company to halt, and as it was impossible 

 that he should go any farther, a fire was kindled, 

 and those who were most fatigued were left behind 

 to take care of him. Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander, Mr. 

 Green, and Mr. Monkhouse went on, and in a short 

 time reached the summit. As botanists, their expect- 

 ations were here abundantly gratified ; for they found 

 a great variety of plants, which, with respect to the 

 alpine plants in Europe, are exactly what those 

 plants are with respect to such as grow in the plain. 



The cold was now become more severe, and the 

 snow-blasts more frequent ; the day also was so far 

 spent, that it was found impossible to get back to the 

 ship before the next morning : to pass the night 

 upon such a mountain, in such a climate, was not only 

 comfortless, but dreadful ; it was impossible, however, 

 to be avoided, and they were to provide for it as well 

 as they could. 



Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander, while they were im- 

 proving an opportunity which they had, with so much 

 danger and difficulty, procured, by gathering the 

 plants which they found upon the mountain, sent 

 Mr. Green and Mr. Monkhouse back to Mr. Buchan 

 and the people that were with him, with directions to 

 bring them to a hill, which they thought lay in a better 

 rout for returning to the wood, and which was there- 

 fore appointed as a general rendezvous. It was pro- 

 posed, that from this hill they should push through 

 the swamp, which seemed by the new rout not to be 

 more than half a mile over, into the shelter of the 

 wood and there build their wigwam, and make a fire : 

 this, as their way was all down hill, it seemed easy to 

 accomplish. Their whole company assembled at the 

 rendezvous, and, though pinched with the cold, were 



