'294' COOK S FIRST VOYAGE OCT. 



had indeed always seven fathom or more, but the 

 soundings were never twice the same, jumping at 

 once from seven fathom to eleven -, in a short time, 

 however, we got clear of all danger, and had again 

 deep water under us. 



At this time the island lay within a mile of us, 

 making in white cliffs, and a long spit of low land 

 running from it towards the main. On the sides of 

 these cliffs sat vast numbers of people, looking at us 

 with a fixed attention, and it is probable that they 

 perceived some appearance of hurry and confusion 

 on board, and some irregularity in the working of 

 the ship, while we were getting clear of the shallow 

 water and broken ground, from which they might 

 infer that we were alarmed or in distress: we thought 

 that they wished to take advantage of our situation, 

 for five canoes were put off with the utmost expedi- 

 tion, full of men, and well armed : they came so 

 near, and showed so hostile a disposition by shout- 

 ing, brandishing their lances, and using threatening 

 gestures, that we were in some pain for our small 

 boat, which was still employed in sounding : a mus- 

 ket was therefore fired over them, but finding it did 

 them no harm, they seemed rather to be provoked 

 than intimidated, and I therefore fired a four-pounder, 

 charged with grape-shot, wide of them : this had a 

 better effect ; upon the report of the piece they all 

 rose up and shouted, but instead of continuing the 

 chace, drew altogether, and after a short consult- 

 ation, went quietly away. 



Having got round Portland, we hauled in for the 

 land N. W. having a gentle breeze at N. E. which 

 about iave o'clock died away, and obliged us to an- 

 chor 'y we had one-and-twenty fathom, with a fine 

 sandy bottom : the south point of Portland bore S. E. 

 ^ S. distant about two leagues, and a low point on 

 the main bore N. ^ E. In the same direction with this 

 low point, there runs a deep bay, behind the land of 

 which Cape Table is the extremity, so as to make 



