CHAPTER VIII 



AUSTRALIA 



After an uneventful voyage, Cook arrived off 

 the south-east coast of New Holland, which 

 was to become New South Wales, on April 19th, 

 and anchored in a large bay, which he called 

 Botany Bay, on account of the great number of 

 plants which Banks and Solander found on its 

 shores. His first welcome by the natives was 

 as spontaneously hostile as had been that of the 

 New Zealanders. Having lowered the boats 

 and embarked in them with his friends, Tupia, 

 and a strong guard of marines and armed men. 

 Cook landed at a spot where several Indians had 

 been seen. The latter ran away, except two, 

 who, armed with spears about ten feet long, 

 greeted the Englishmen in a rough and dissonant 

 language of which poor Tupia could make noth- 

 ing. Although they were two to forty, the na- 

 tives seemed determined to prevent the strangers 

 from penetrating their country. Cook ordered 

 his men to stop rowing and threw the two In- 

 dians a few nails and necklace beads, which 

 seemed to please them. Then, by signs, he tried 

 to make them understand that he wanted water, 



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