FIRST VOYAGE 85 



It would be difficult to conjecture how each arrived at 

 the same mode. 



The points of their lances are sometimes made of fish 

 bones, and sometimes of a hard, heavy wood ; they are 

 barbed with other pieces of wood or bone, so that when 

 they have entered any depth into the body, they cannot 

 be drawn out without tearing the flesh in a shocking manner, 

 or leaving splinters behind them. 



In the northern parts of this coast, the canoes are formed 

 by hollowing out the trunk of a tree ; and it was con- 

 jectured that this operation must have been performed by 

 fire, as the natives did not appear to have any instrument 

 proper for the purpose. The canoes are in length about 

 fourteen feet, and so narrow that they would be frequently 

 overset, but that they are provided with an outrigger. 

 The natives row them with paddles, using both hands in 

 that employment. 



The short intercourse which the English gentlemen had 

 with these people, prevented them from obtaining so perfect 

 a knowledge of the language of the natives as could have 

 been wished. They articulated their words very distinctly; 

 and frequently repeated the word " tut," when in company 

 with the English, several times together which was . 

 supposed to be an expression of astonishment and admira- 

 tion. Upon the whole, their language was neither harsh 

 nor inharmonious. 



The 24th of August, 1770, the cable broke near the ring, 

 in the attempt to weigh the anchor ; on which another 

 was dropped, which prevented the ship driving. The 

 anchor was recovered the next morning. 



Weighing* on the 25th of August, they steered north- 

 west, and in a few hours one of the boats, which was ahead 



* Captain Cook makes the following observations on quitting 

 New Holland : " Having satisfied myself with the great proba- 

 bility of a passage, through which I intend going with the ship, 

 and therefore may land no more upon this eastern coast of New 

 Holland, and on the western side I can make no new discovery, the 

 honour of which belongs to the Dutch navigators, but the eastern 

 coast, from the latitude of 38 S., down to this place (Endeavour 

 Straits), I am confident was never seen or visited, by any European 

 before us ; and notwithstanding I had, in the name of His Majesty, 

 taken possession of several places upon this coast, I now once more 

 hoisted English colours, and in the name of His Majesty King George 

 the Third, took possession of the whole eastern coast, from the 

 above latitude down to this place, by the name of New South Wales, 

 together with all the bays, harbours, rivers, and islands situate upon 

 the said coast, upon which we fired three volleys of small arms, which 

 were answered by the like number from the ship." Extract, 

 Captain Cook's Journal, Records, Admiralty, Whitehall. P. 297, 



