SECOND VOYAGE 177 



pains in the head and bones, attended with a scorching heat 

 all over the skin, and numbness in the joints. There 

 remained no doubt that this was occasioned by the fish being 

 of a poisonous nature, and having communicated its bad 

 effects to all who partook of them ; even to the hogs and 

 dogs. One of the former died about sixteen hours after ; 

 it was not long before one of the latter shared the same fate ; 

 and it was a week or ten days before all the gentlemen 

 recovered. These must have been the same sort of fish 

 mentioned by Quiros, under the name of pargos, which 

 poisoned the crews of his ships, so that it was some time 

 before they recovered ; and they would doubtless have been 

 in the same situation had more of them been eaten.* 



Continuing their course to the south, they drew near the 

 southern lands, which they found to consist of one large 

 island, whose southern and western extremities extended 

 beyond their sight, and three or four smaller ones, lying off 

 its north side. The two northernmost are much the largest, 

 have a good height, and lie in the direction of E. by S. 

 and W. by N. from each other, distant two leagues. They 

 named the one Montague, and the other Hinchinbrook, and 

 the large island Sandwich, in honour of the Earl of Sandwich. 

 As they passed Hinchinbrook Isle, several people came 

 down to the sea-side, and by signs seemed to invite them 

 ashore. Some were also seen on Sandwich Island, which 

 exhibited a most delightful prospect, being spotted with 

 woods and lawns, agreeably diversified over the whole 

 surface, with a gentle slope from the hills, which were of 

 a moderate height, down to the sea-coast. This was low, 

 and guarded by a chain of breakers, so that there was no 

 approaching it at this part. 



On the 3rd of August, they found themselves abreast a 

 lofty promontory ; and early next morning Captain Cook 

 went, with two boats, to examine the coast, to look for 

 a proper landing-place, wood, and water. At this time the 

 natives began to assemble on the shore, and by signs 

 invited them to land. The Captain went first to a small 

 beach, where he found no good landing. Some of the 

 natives who were there offered to haul the boats over the 

 breakers, to the sandy beach, which was thought a friendly 

 offer, but they had reason afterwards to alter their opinion. 

 They put in to the shore in two or three places, but, not 

 liking the situation, did not land. By this time the natives 

 conceived what they wanted, as they directed the boat 

 * Some years ago, several officers and seamen in Captain Sir 

 Everard Home's ship (the CaUiope), were made seriously ill by 

 eating fish of a poisonous nature, and one or two died. It was long 

 before the others recovered. 



