FIRST VOYAGE 79 



The boat was now despatched in search of fish for the re- 

 freshment of the sick, but she returned without getting any. 



The Captain ordered the smith's forge to be set up, and 

 directed the armourer to prepare the necessary iron work 

 for the repair of the vessel. He likewise ordered out the 

 officers' stores and water, in order to lighten the ship. 

 Same day Mr. Banks crossed the river to view the country, 

 which was little else than sand-hills. He saw vast flocks 

 of crows and pigeons, of the latter of which he shot several, 

 which were most beautiful birds. 



Early in the morning of the 22nd, the tide left the ship, 

 and they proceeded to examine the leak, when they found 

 that the rocks had cut through four planks into the timbers, 

 and that three other planks were damaged. In these 

 breaches, not a splinter was to be seen, the whole being 

 smooth, as if cut away by an instrument : but the preserva- 

 tion of the vessel was owing to a very singular circumstance. 

 One of the holes was large enough to have sunk her, even 

 with eight pumps constantly at work ; but this hole was, 

 in a great measure, stopped up by the fragment of the rock 

 being left sticking in it. They likewise found some pieces 

 of oakum, wool, etc., which had got between the timbers, 

 and stopped many parts of the leak, which had been left 

 open by the stone. Exclusive of the leak, great damage 

 was done to various parts of the ship's bottom. 



While the smiths and carpenters were engaged, some of 

 the crew were sent across the river to shoot pigeons for 

 the sick. These people found a stream of fresh water, 

 discovered many Indian houses, and had sight of a mouse- 

 coloured animal, extremely swift, and about the size of a 

 greyhound. Next day many of the crew saw the animal 

 above-mentioned ; and one of the seamen declared he had 

 seen the devil, which he described in the following words : 

 " He was as large," says he, " as a one gallon keg, and very 

 like it ; he had horns and wings, yet he crept so slowly 

 through the grass, that if I had not been afeared, I might 

 have touched him." It appeared afterwards that this poor 

 fellow had seen a bat, which is almost black, and as large 

 as a partridge ; and his own apprehensions had furnished 

 his devil with horns. 



A midshipman saw a wolf exactly resembling those of 

 America. Mr. Gore also saw two straw-coloured animals, of 

 the size of a hare, but shaped like a dog. So much fish was 

 taken, that each man had two pounds and a half ; and 

 plenty of greens were gathered, which being boiled with the 

 pease., their fare was deemed excellent. 



Cockles were found by the master so large, that one of 

 them was more than sufficient for two men ; and likewise 



