336 cook's first voyage nov. 



sometimes pointed like a Serjeant's halberd, some- 

 times only tapering to a point at one end, and having 

 the other end broad, and shaped somewhat like the 

 blade of an oar. They have also another weapon, 

 about a foot shorter than these, pointed at one end, 

 and at the other shaped like an axe. The points of 

 their long lances are barbed, and they handle them 

 with such strength and agility, that we can match 

 them with no weapon but a loaded musquet. 



After taking a slight view of the country, and 

 loading both the boats with celery, which we found 

 in great plenty near the beach, we returned from our 

 excursion, and about five o'clock in the evening got 

 on board the ship. 



On the 15th, I sailed out of the bay, and at the 

 same time had several canoes on board, in one of 

 which was our friend Toiava, who said, that as soon 

 as we were gone he must repair to his Heppah or fort, 

 because the friends of the man who had been shot 

 by Mr. Gore on the 9th, had threatened to revenge 

 his death upon him, whom they had reproached as 

 being our friend. Off the north point of the bay, 1 

 saw a great number of islands, of various extent, 

 which lay scattered to the north-west, in a direction 

 parallel with the main as far as I could see. I steered 

 north-east for the north-easternmost of these islands, 

 but the wind coming to the north-west, I was obliged 

 to stand out to sea. 



To the bay which we had now left I gave the 

 name of Mercury Bay, on account of the observ- 

 ation which we had made there of the transit of that 

 planet over the sun. It lies in latitude 36° 47' S. ; 

 and in the longitude of 184° 4' W.: there are several 

 islands lying both to the southward and northward 

 of it, and a small island or rock in the middle of the 

 entrance : within this island the depth of water no 

 where exceeds nine fathom ; the best anchoring is 

 in a sandy bay, which lies just within the south head. 



