FIRST VOYAGE 25 



The generality of writers who have described the island 

 of Tierra del Fuego, have represented it as covered with 

 snow, and destitute of wood. In this, however, they are 

 evidently mistaken, and their error must have arisen from 

 having visited it in the winter season, when it possibly may 

 be covered with snow. The crew of the Endeavour per- 

 ceived trees when they were at a considerable distance from 

 the island, and on their nearer approach, they found the sea 

 coast and the sides of the hills clothed with an agreeable 

 verdure. The summits of the hills are barren, but the 

 valleys are rich, and a brook is to be found at the foot of 

 almost every hill ; the water has a reddish tinge, but is not 

 ill tasted, and was found to be some of the best obtained 

 during the whole voyage. 



Thursday, January 20th, Captain Cook weighed anchor, 

 and the weather being calm, Mr. Banks, from a small boat, 

 shot some sheerwaters and albatrosses ; the latter proved 

 good eating. 



Although the doubling of Cape Horn was represented as 

 a dangerous, and the Strait of Magellan a less perilous 

 course, the Endeavour doubled the Cape on this occasion 

 with as much ease as if it had been the North Foreland on 

 the Kentish coast ; the heavens were fair, the wind tem- 

 perate, the weather pleasant ; and, being near shore, they 

 had a distinct view of the coast. 



About ten o'clock, Tuesday, April 4th, Peter Briscoe, 

 servant to Mr. Banks, discovered land to the south, about 

 three or four leagues distant. Captain Cook immediately 

 hauled up for it, and found it to be an island of an oval 

 form, with a lake in the centre, that extended over the 

 greater part of it. The border of land which surrounded 

 the lake was in many places low and narrow, especially 

 towards the south, where the beach consisted of a reef of 

 rocks ; three places on the north side had the same appear- 

 ance. Captain Cook came within a mile on the north 

 side, but though he cast a line of one hundred and thirty 

 fathoms, he found no bottom, and could not meet with any 

 anchorage. 



There were several natives visible on shore ; they seemed 

 tall, with remarkably large heads, probably increased by 

 the head dress ; their hair was black, and their complexions 

 copper colour. Some that were abreast of the ship, had 

 in their hands pikes or poles twice the height of them- 

 selves. 



Captain Cook saw land again in the afternoon to the 

 north-west. He reached it by sunset, when it appeared to 

 he a low island covered with wood, in circular form, about 

 a mile in circumference. No inhabitants were visible, n-or 



