SiS cook's first voyage NOV. 



the niglit ; and where there are fires, there are al- 

 ways people. 



At day-break, on the 25th, we left the bay, and 

 steered along shore to the northward : we found the 

 variation of the compass to be J 2° 42' E. At noon, 

 our latitude was 35° St)' S., Bream Head bore south, 

 distant ten miles ; and we saw some small islands, to 

 which I gave the name of the Poor Knights, at N. 

 E. by N. distant three leagues ; the northernmost 

 land in sight bore N. N. W. : we were in this place 

 at the distance of two miles from the shore, and had 

 twenty-six fathom water. 



The country appeared low, but well covered with 

 wood : we saw some straggling houses, three or four 

 fortified towns, and near them a large quantity of 

 cultivated land. 



In the evening, seven large canoes came off to us, 

 with about two hundred men : some of them came 

 on board, and said that they had heard of us. To 

 two of them, who appeared to be chiefs, I gave 

 presents ; but when these were gone out of the ship, 

 the others became exceedingly troublesome. Some 

 of those in the canoes began to trade, and, according 

 to their custom, to cheat, by refusing to deliver what 

 .had been bought, after they had received the price : 

 among these was one who had received an old pair 

 of black breeches, which, upon a few small shot being 

 fi.red at him, he threw into the sea. All the boats 

 soon after paddled oflTto some distance, and when they 

 thought they were out of reach, they began to defy 

 us, by singing their song, and brandishing their wea- 

 pons. We thought it advisable to intimidate them, 

 as well for their sakes as our own, and therefore fired 

 first some small arms, and then round shot over their 

 heads ; the last put them in a terrible fright, though 

 they received no damage, except by over-heating 

 themselves in paddling away, which they did with 

 astonishing expedition. 



