50 COOK’S VOYAGE, 
tacked and flood off till twelve, then tacked and flood in again 
till rour in the morning, \vh en we made a trip off till day light ; 
and during all this time we loft ground, owing to the variable- 
nefs of the winds. We continued at the diftance of between 
four and five miles from the ihore, till the afternoon, when 
we came within two miles, and I then hoifted out the pinnace 
and yawl to attempt a landing, but the pinnace proved to be 
fo leaky that I was obliged to hoift her in again. At this time 
we faw feveral of the natives walking brilkly along the Ihore, 
four of whom carried a fmall canoe upon their Ihoulders : we 
flattered ourfclves that they were going to put her into the 
water, and come off to the ihip, but finding ourfelves difap- 
pointed, I determined to go on Ihore in the yawl, with as 
.many as it would carry : I embarked therefore, only with Mr. 
Banks, Dr. Solander, Tupia, and four rowers : we pulled for 
that part of the Ihore where the Indians appeared, near which 
four fmall canoes were lying at the water’ t edge. The Indians 
fat down upon the rocks, and feemed to wait for our landing ; 
but to our great regret, when we came within about a quarter 
of a mile, they ran away into the woods : we determined 
however to go aihore, and endeavour to procure an interview, 
but ir. this w'e were again difappointed, for we found fo great 
a furf beating upon every part of the beach, that landing with 
our little boat was altogether imprafticable : we were there- 
fore obliged to be content with gazing at fuch objefts as pre- 
fented themfelves from the water : the canoes, upon a near 
view, feemed very much to refemble thofe of the fmaller fort 
at New Zealand. We obferved, that among the trees on 
ihore, which were not very large, there was no undemood ; and 
could diftinguilh that many of them were of the palm kind, 
and fome of them cabbage trees : after many a wifhful look we 
were obliged to return, with our curicfity rather excited than 
fatisfied, and about five in the evening got on board the ihip. 
About this time it fell calm, and our fituation was by no means 
agreeable : we wete now not more than a mile and a half from 
the Ihore, and within fome breakers, which lay to the fouth- 
vvard ; but happily a light breeze came off the land, and car- 
ried us out of danger : with this breeze we flood to the north- 
vvard, and at day- break we difeovered a bay, which feemed to 
be well iheltered from all winds, and into which, therefore, I 
determined to go with the ftlip. The pinnace being repair- 
ed, I fent her, with the Mailer, to found the entrance, while 
I kept turning up, having the wind right out. At noon, the 
mouth of the bay bore N. N. W. diftant about a mile, and fe- 
ing a fmoke on the ihore, we directed our glades to the fpot, 
and foen difeovered ten people, who, upon our nearer approach, 
left their fire, and retired to a little eminence, whence they 
pould conveniently obferve our motions. Soon after two ca- 
noe? 
