jJuNE 1770 SHIP AFLOAT—ENDEAVOUR RIVER 279 
utmost for the preservation of the ship, contrary to what I 
have universally heard to be the behaviour of seamen, who 
commonly, as soon as a ship is in a desperate situation, 
begin to plunder and refuse all command. This was no 
doubt owing to the cool and steady conduct of the officers, 
who, during the whole time, never gave an order which did 
not show them to be perfectly composed and unmoved by the 
circumstances, however dreadful they might appear. 
14th. The captain and I went ashore to view a harbour, 
and found it indeed beyond our most sanguine wishes. It 
was the mouth of a river, the entrance of which was, to be 
sure, narrow enough and shallow, but when once in, the 
ship might be moved afloat so near the shore, that by a 
stage from her to it all her cargo might be got out and in 
again in a very short time. In this same place she might 
be hove down with all ease, but the beach showed signs of 
the tides rising in the springs six or seven feet, which was 
more than enough to do our business without that trouble. 
16th. Tupia had for the last few days bad gums, which 
were very soon followed by livid spots on his legs and every 
symptom of inveterate scurvy. Notwithstanding acid, bark, 
and every medicine our surgeon could give him, he became 
now extremely ill. Mr. Green, the astronomer, was also in 
a very poor way, which made everybody in the cabin very 
desirous of getting ashore, and impatient at our tedious 
delays. 
17th. Weather a little less rough than it had been the 
last few days; weighed and brought the ship in, but in 
doing so ran her ashore twice by the narrowness of the 
channel; the second time she remained till the tide lifted 
her off. In the meantime Dr. Solander and I began our 
plant-gathering. In the evening the ship was moored 
within twenty feet of the shore, afloat, and before night 
much lumber was got out of her. 
18th. A stage built from the ship much facilitated our 
undertakings. In walking about the country I saw the old 
frames of Indian houses, and places where they had dressed 
1 Endeavour River. 
