344 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



other. There were several breakers about them, and yet 

 Providence had, in the dark, conducted the ships through 

 between these rocks, which I should not have ventured in 

 a clear day, and to such an anchoring place that I could not 

 have chosen a better. 



" On a point which bore west from the ship, three- 

 quarters of a mile distant, were several natives and their 

 habitations. To this place we saw them tow in two 

 whales, which we supposed they had just killed. A few of 

 them now and then came off to the ships and bartered a 

 few trifling things with our people, but never remained 

 above a quarter of an hour at a time. On the contrary, 

 they rather seemed shy, and yet we could judge that they 

 were no strangers to vessels something like ours. They 

 behaved with a degree of politeness uncommon to savage 

 tribes. 



" At daybreak on the 28th, we weighed with a light 

 breeze at south, which was succeeded by variable light airs 

 from all directions. But as there ran a rapid tide in our 

 favour, we got through before the ebb made. We came 

 to anchor in twenty-eight fathoms water, pretty near the 

 southern shore. 



" While we lay here several of the natives came off to us, 

 and bartered a few fishing implements for tobacco. One 

 of them, a young man, overset his canoe while alongside 

 of one of our boats. Our people caught hold of him, but 

 the canoe went adrift. The youth, by this accident, was 

 obliged to come into the ship, and he went down into my 

 cabin upon the first invitation, without expressing the least 

 reluctance or uneasiness. His own clothes being wet, I 

 gave him others, in which he dressed himself with as much 

 ease as I could have done. From his behaviour, and that 

 of some others, we were convinced that these people were 

 no strangers to Europeans, and to some of their customs. 

 But there was something in our ships that greatly excited 

 their curiosity ; for such as could not come off in canoes 

 assembled on the neighbouring hills to look at them. 



" Soon after we anchored, a native of the island brought 

 on board such another note as had been given to Captain 

 Clerke. He presented it to me, but it was written in the 

 Russian language, which, as already observed, none of us 

 could read. As it could be of no use to me, and might 

 be of consequence to others, I returned it to the bearer, and 

 dismissed him with a few presents, for which he expressed 

 his thanks by making several low bows as he retired. 



" Thick fogs and a contrary wind detained us till the 2nd 

 of July, which afforded an opportunity of acquiring some 

 knowledge of the country and of its inhabitants. 



