CHAPTER XIII 
SOME ACCOUNT OF THAT PART OF NEW HOLLAND NOW 
CALLED NEW SOUTH WALES! 
General appearance of the coast—Dampier’s narrative—Barrenness of the 
country—Scarcity of water—Vegetables and fruits—Timber—Palms— 
Gum trees—Quadrupeds—Birds—Insects—Ants and their habitations— 
Fish—Turtle—Shell-fish—Scarcity of people—Absence of cultivation— 
Description of natives—Ornaments—Absence of vermin—Implements for 
catching fish—Food— Cooking — Habitations— Furniture— Vessels for 
carrying water—Bags—Tools—Absence of sharp instruments—Native 
method of procuring fire—Weapons—Throwing-sticks—Shield—Cowardice 
of the people—Canoes—Climate—Language. 
Havine now, I believe, fairly passed through between New 
Holland and New Guinea, and having an open sea to the 
westward, so that to-morrow we intend to steer more to the 
northwards in order to make the south coast of New Guinea, 
it seems high time to take leave of New Holland, which I 
shall do by summing up the few observations I have been 
able to make on the country and people. JI much wished, 
indeed, to have had better opportunities of seeing and 
observing the people, as they differ so much from the account 
that Dampier (the only man I know of who has seen them 
besides us) has given of them: he indeed saw them on 
a part of the coast very distant from where we were, 
and consequently the people might be different; but I 
should rather conclude them to be the same, chiefly from 
having observed an universal conformity in such of their 
1 This chapter is thus entitled by Banks. The name ‘“‘New Wales” was 
bestowed by Cook on the whole eastern coast from lat. 88 8. to Cape York: 
the Admiralty copy of Cook’s Journal, and that belonging to Her Majesty, 
call it ‘‘ New South Wales” (Wharton’s Cook, p. 312). 
