346 SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 



men said, " all he desired was to lay down and die." 

 The Doctor did not quite say so ; but he acted on this 

 feeling. He fell asleep before he could reach the fire 

 which Mr. Banks had kindled. When the latter roused 

 him, his feet were found to be so shrunk that his shoes 

 fell off. 



On the 26th of January, 1769, they sailed from Cape 

 Horn, and arrived, after a prosperous voyage, at Ota- 

 heite, on the llth of April. The delightful climate, 

 pleasing landscape, and amiable people which here 

 met them, may well be supposed to have enchanted 

 men who for eight long months had seen only the sea 

 and the sky, unless when they touched on the arid and 

 inhospitable coast of Terra del Fuego. But amid their 

 repose and relaxation, business never was forgotten. 

 They spent the time that elapsed before the Transit in 

 astronomical observations, and in a minute examination 

 of the island. Mr. Banks and his friend became tho- 

 roughly acquainted with every branch of its natural 

 history, but he also acquired extraordinary favour and 

 influence with the natives, insomuch that he became 

 the frequent arbiter in their disputes. This ascendant 

 he owed to his frank and manly carriage, his perfect 

 good humour, and his unfailing firmness, to which we 

 must certainly add his noble presence, so well fitted 

 to make an impression upon rude minds. An im- 

 portant service was rendered by him, and he was 

 enabled to render it through the influence which he 

 had thus acquired. When the observatory was estab- 

 lished on the 1st of May, and the instruments had 

 been taken on shore the evening before, it was found 

 that the quadrant, contained in a large packing-case, 

 and deposited in a tent guarded by a sentinel, had 

 been carried off. The whole object of the expedition 

 was frustrated should it not be recovered. Every 

 search proved unavailing. At last Mr. Banks went 

 into the woods, and his judicious and spirited exertions 

 proved successful; the precious instrument was restored 



