172 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



Nature is exceedingly kind to these islands ; and the 

 natives, copying her bounty, are equally liberal, contributing 

 plentifully and cheerfully to the wants of navigators. On 

 leaving the harbour they fired a salute in honour of the day. 



Nothing particular happened for more than a week. 



On the 16th, just after sun-rise, land was seen from the 

 masthead. They immediately steered for it, and found it 

 to be an island, composed of five or six woody islets, con- 

 nected together by sand-banks and breakers, inclosing a 

 lake, into which they could see no entrance. The Captain 

 looked upon this as a new discovery, and named it 

 Palmerston Island, in honour of Lord Palmerston, one of 

 the lords of the Admiralty. 



On the 20th, they saw land ; and as they drew nearer, 

 found it to be an island of considerable extent. Perceiving 

 some people on the shore, and landing seeming to be 

 easy, they hoisted out two boats, with which they put off 

 to the land, accompanied by some of the officers and 

 gentlemen. 



Friendly signs were made to the natives, which were 

 answered by menaces. All endeavours to bring them to a 

 parley were to no purpose ; for they advanced with the 

 ferocity of wild boars, and threw their darts. Two or three 

 muskets, discharged in the air, did not hinder one of them 

 from advancing still farther, and throwing another dart, 

 which passed close over the Captain's shoulder. His 

 temerity would have cost him his life, had not the Captain's 

 musket missed fire. 



The conduct and aspect of these islanders occasioned 

 the Captain's naming it Savage Island. They seemed to be 

 stout well made men, were naked, except round the waists, 

 and some of them had their faces, breast, and thighs, 

 painted black. 



On the 26th of June, they arrived off the coast of Rotter- 

 dam. Before they had well got to an anchor, the natives 

 came off from all parts in canoes, bringing with them yams 

 and shaddocks, which they exchanged for small nails and 

 old rags. Early in the morning the captain went ashore 

 with Mr. Gilbert, to look for fresh water, and were received 

 w r ith great courtesy by the natives. After they had distri- 

 buted some presents amongst them, he asked for water, 

 and was conducted to a brackish pond of it, about three- 

 fourths of a mile from the landing-place ; which he supposed 

 to be the same that Tasman watered at. In the meantime, 

 the people in the boat had laden her with fruit and roots 

 which the natives had brought down, and exchanged for 

 nails and beads. In the afternoon the surgeon was robbed 

 of his gun, by a fellow who ran off with it, and would 



