356 SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 



appearance ; and, among others, Mr. Green the astronomer, 

 and Tupia, a native who had accompanied them from the 

 wish to visit England, were so severely attacked that there 

 seemed no means of stemming the disease. The country 

 was explored to find fresh vegetables for the relief of 

 the sick, and Mr. Banks, with his wonted activity and skill, 

 served to guide these important expeditions. In the course 

 of them he discovered the strange quadruped since so 

 familiarly known both to naturalists and the vulgar, 

 the kangaroo. He also found a supply of fish, turtle, 

 and large cockles, and some vegetables, which proved a 

 most seasonable relief. Nor were his researches con- 

 cerning the manners and habits of the natives less inter- 



O 



esting to science ; indeed, it is principally to him that we 

 owe the accurate descriptions of the natives seen and 

 conversed with in the course of the voyage, a description 

 which forms a new and important chapter in the general 

 history of our species. In prosecuting these inquiries his 

 courage was as conspicuous as his activity and his judg- 

 ment. He would expose himself to their collected mul- 

 titudes when some inadvertent proceeding had roused 

 their anger, or would resist them when a thirst of plunder 

 incited them to threaten ; he would visit their habitations 

 unattended by any force whatever; he would sleep for 

 nights together on the ground at many leagues' distance 

 from the crew of the vessel, and accompanied only by two 

 or three attendants, regardless of the peril in which he must 

 have been placed had the natives, possibly living close 

 by, discovered the place of his repose. 



After remaining on this coast above six weeks, they 

 set sail again on the 3rd of August, but it was a grievous 

 disappointment to find, on examining the pumps, that 



