EARLY YEARS n 



was a worthy object in view, and when there was a 

 scientific trip to the fore. 



He left London on April 7, 1766, and joined his 

 friend Phipps at the latter's house in Hampshire. Before 

 leaving Plymouth they visited Mount Edgcumbe, Banks 

 botanizing there as, indeed, he had done all along the 

 route, beside taking intelligent notice of other matters. 

 The Niger sailed April 22, and reached Newfoundland 

 May ii. On landing, an active life began at once. Long 

 walks were taken. Plants and birds and fish, and the 

 manners and customs of the sparse inhabitants in turn 

 attracted observation, and kept the travellers busy. 

 Fishing was excellent everywhere. Fowling and shooting 

 were always to be had. Banks was ill with fever during 

 August, and had a milder attack in October ; otherwise, 

 he heartily enjoyed the whole affair. Even sea-sickness 

 was conquered in a series of boat trips, which were 

 frequent and necessary in the tiny archipelagoes that 

 fringed the coasts. Mosquitoes were very troublesome, a 

 source of trial to the temper which had not been foreseen, 

 and against which no precautions appear to have been laid. 



The ship was stationed for some weeks in Croque 

 Harbour, and afterward visited Chatteaux Bay and other 

 settlements as far as Esquimaux Islands, off Labrador. 

 She returned southward in October, and sailed from 

 St. John's on the 28th of that month. The pleasure of 

 the homeward voyage was marred by a severe gale, during 

 which a sea broke over the quarter and almost filled 

 the cabin with water. A precious box of seeds was 

 demolished, as well as the box of earth with plants in it 

 which stood upon deck. Happily, the journal full of 

 zoological and botanical notes was kept intact. 



The Niger made for Lisbon and reached that port on 

 November 2. She was stationed there for some weeks. 

 Thus Banks was enabled to stay in Portugal, and keep 

 his active mind at work on the many topics which ap- 



