268 AUSTRALIA CHAP. XI 
sail in the sun, kept them in this manner exposed the 
whole day, often turning them, and sometimes turning the 
quires in which were plants inside out. By this means 
they came on board at night in very good condition. During 
this time eleven canoes, in each of which was one Indian, 
came towards us: we soon saw that the people in them 
were employed in striking fish, They came within about 
half a mile of us, intent upon their own employments, and 
not at all regarding us. Opposite the place where they 
were several of our people were shooting: one Indian, 
prompted maybe by curiosity, landed, hauled up his canoe, 
and went towards them. He stayed about a quarter of an 
hour, and then launched his boat and went off. Probably 
that time had been spent behind the trees in watching to 
see what our people did. I could not find, however, that 
he was seen by anybody. 
When the damp of the evening made it necessary to 
send my plants and books on board, I made a short excur- 
sion to shoot anything I could meet with, and found a 
large quantity of quails, much resembling our English ones, 
of which I might have killed as many almost as I pleased, 
had I given my time up to it; but my business was to kill 
variety, and not too many individuals of any one species. 
The captain and Dr. Solander employed the day in going 
in the pinnace into various parts of the harbour. They 
saw fires at several places, and people who all ran away 
at their approach with the greatest precipitation, leaving 
behind the shell-fish which they were cooking. Of this our 
gentlemen took advantage, eating what they found and 
leaving beads, ribands, etc., in return. They found also 
several trees which bore a fruit of the Jambosa kind, in 
colour and shape much resembling cherries. Of these they 
ate plentifully, and brought home also abundance, which we 
ate with pleasure, though they had little to recommend 
them but a slight acid. 
4th. Myself in the woods, botanising as usual: now 
quite devoid of fear, as our neighbours have turned out 
such rank cowards. One of our midshipmen, straying by 
