KERGUELEN AND VAN DIEMEN'S LAND 199 



told the Captain that he had seen several women 

 as black and as scantily clad as the men, as well 

 as some children, who had seemed to him quite 

 pretty. Certain of the women carried a kanga- 

 roo skin on their backs, probably for the purpose 

 of carrying their offspring. 



Several English officers had addressed compli- 

 ments and smiles to the women, and had offered 

 them presents, which they had indignantly re- 

 fused. An old man, a witness of this British gal- 

 lantry, ordered the women and children to retire. 

 Cook was much vexed by this conduct on the 

 part of his officers, and expressed his displeasure 

 in his Journal. "This conduct of Europeans 

 amongst Savages, to their women, is highly 

 blameable; as it creates a jealousy in their men, 

 that may be attended with consequences fatal to 

 the success of the common enterprize, and to the 

 whole body of adventurers." 



During the three days which he spent in Van 

 Diemen's Land Cook had ample forage har- 

 vested for his animals, and, with Anderson the 

 naturalist, abandoned himself to every kind of 

 observation which might have a scientific utility. 

 The district was not particularly fertile, and the 

 natives seemed even more primitive than the 

 Tierra del Fuegans. Indolent and stupid, they 

 appeared to have no Industry, and lived in the 

 branches of the great trees. 



