FIRST VOYAGE 21 



they were surrounded by great numbers of porpoises, of a 

 singular species, which were about fifteen feet in length 

 and of an ash colour. 



On the 23rd, they observed an eclipse of the moon ; and 

 about seven o'clock in the morning, a small white cloud 

 appeared in the west, from which a train of fire issued, 

 extending itself westerly ; about two minutes after, they 

 heard two distinct loud explosions, immediately succeeding 

 each other like cannon ; after which the cloud soon dis- 

 appeared. 



January 4th [1769], they saw an appearance of land 

 which they mistook for Pepys' Island ; but on standing 

 towards it, it proved to be what the sailors call a fog bank. 

 On the 14th, they entered the Strait of La Maire ; but the 

 tide being against them, they were driven out with great 

 violence, and the waves ran so high, that the ship's bow- 

 sprit was frequently under water ; at length, however, they 

 got anchorage at the entrance of a little cove, which 

 Captain Cook called St. Vincent's Bay. 



The weeds, which here grow upon rocky ground, are very 

 remarkable ; they appear above the surface in eight and 

 nine fathoms water ; the leaves are four feet in length, and 

 many of the stalks, though not more than an inch and a 

 half in circumference, above one hundred. Mr. Banks and 

 Dr. Solander having been on shore some hours, returned 

 with more than a hundred different plants and flowers, 

 hitherto unnoticed by the European botanists. 



Sunday, 15th, having anchored in twelve fathoms water, 

 upon coral rocks, before a small cove, distant from shore 

 about a mile, two of the natives came down upon the beach, 

 in expectation that they would land ; but this situation 

 affording little shelter, the captain got under sail again, 

 and the natives retired. 



About two o'clock they anchored in the Bay of Good 

 Success, and Captain Cook went on shore, accompanied by 

 Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander, to search for a watering-place, 

 and confer with the Indians. They proceeded about a 

 hundreds yards in advance, when two of the Indians, having 

 approached and seated themselves, immediately rose, upon 

 Mr. Banks and the Doctor coming up, throwing away a 

 small stick (bumerang), which they had before in their 

 hands ; this they did in such a direction, that the stick flew 

 both from themselves and the strangers, which they meant 

 as a token of peace. They then returned briskly towards 

 their companions, who had remained at some distance 

 behind, and made signs to the strangers to advance, which 

 they accordingly complied with. The reception was friendly, 

 though the manner was uncouth. The civility was returned 



