THIRD VOYAGE 227 



serving posterity, by having some to spare to leave on the lands 

 I may touch at before I arrive at that island, I hope it will meet 

 their Lordships' approbation, and that they will order the bill to 

 be honoured, which I have taken the liberty to draw on you of 

 this date in favour of Mr. Christoffel Brand, or order, for the sum 

 of two hundred and fourteen pounds ten shillings and sixpence 

 sterling, in a set of bills of exchange of the same time and date, 

 and payable at thirty days' sight, it being for the purchase and 

 keeping the live stock, supporting Omai, and for defraying Mr. 

 Webber's expenses, all of which will appear by the enclosed 

 vouchers. A painting which he made of St. Cruz, in the island 

 of Teneriffe, I have left with Mr. Brand, of this place, to be for- 

 warded to their Lordships by the first safe opportunity.* 



Having given Captain Clerke a copy of his instructions, 

 and an order directing him how to proceed in case of 

 separation, in the morning of the 30th they repaired on 

 board, and at five in the afternoon weighed, and stood out 

 of the bay. 



" We steered a south-east course, with a very strong gale 

 from the westward, followed by a mountainous sea, which 

 made the ship roll and tumble exceedingly, and gave us 

 much trouble to preserve the cattle we had on board. 

 Notwithstanding our care, several goats, especially the 

 males, died, and some sheep. This misfortune was, in 

 a great measure, owing to the cold, which we now began 

 most sensibly to feel." 



Nothing of interest happened from the 5th of December 

 till the 26th of January, when they arrived at Van Diemen's 

 Land ; where, as soon as they had anchored in Adventure 

 Bay, Captain Cook ordered the boats to be hoisted out. 

 In one of them he went himself, to look for the most 

 commodious place for furnishing themselves with the 

 necessary supplies ; and Captain Clerke went in his own 

 boat upon the same service. 



" Next morning early," says Captain Cook, " I sent 

 Lieutenant King to the east side of the bay, with two 

 parties, one to cut wood and the other grass, under the 

 protection of the marines. For although, as yet, none of 

 the natives had appeared, there could be no doubt that 

 some were in our neighbourhood. I also sent the launch 

 for water ; and afterwards visited all the parties myself. 

 In the evening, we drew the seine at the head of the bay, 

 and, at one haul, caught a great quantity of fish. Most 

 of them were of that sort known to seamen by the name 

 of elephant fish. 



" In the afternoon, next day, we were agreeably surprised, 

 at the place where we were cutting wood, with a visit from 

 some of the natives eight men and a boy. They ap- 

 * Records, Admiralty, Whitehall. 



