Exceuence of the Soit, 57 
the fra all (hot wnich we were obliged to fire at them, when 
they attacked us at our coming out of the boat ; but they had 
probably feen the efte&s of them, from their lurking-places, * 
upon the birds that we had (hot. Tupia, who was now be- 
come a good markfman, frequently (frayed from us to (hoot 
parrots; and he had told us, that while he was thus employed, 
he had once met with nine Indians, who, as foon as they per- 
ceived he faw them, ran from him, in great confufion and 
terror. 
The next day, twelve canoes, in each of which was a Angle 
Indian, came towards the watering place, and were within 
half a mile of it a confiderable time : they were employed in 
ftriking fiih, upon which, like others that we had feen before, 
they were fo intent, that they feemed to regard nothing elfe. 
It happened, however, that a party of our people were out a 
(hooting near the place, and one of the men, whofe curiofity 
might at length perhaps be roufed by the report of the fowling 
pieces, was obferved by Mr. Banks to haul up his canoe, upon 
the beach, and go towards the (hooting party : in (omething- 
more than a quarter of an hour he returned, launched his ca- 
noe, and went offinhertohis companions. This incident 
makes it probable that the natives acquired a knowledge of the 
deftru&ive power of our fire arms, when we knew nothing of 
the matter ; for this man was not feen by any of the party 
whofe operations he had reconnoitred, 
While Mr. Banks was gathering plants near the watering- 
place, I went with Dr. Solander and Mr. Monkhoufe to the 
head of the bay, that I might examine' that part of the country, 
and make farther attempts to form feme connexion with the' 
natives. In our way we met with eleven or twelve frnall ca- 
n-oes, with each a man in it, probably the fame that were after- 
wards abread of tlxe (hore, who all made into fhoal water upon 
our approach’. We met other- Indians on (hore the fird time we' 
landed, who inllandy took to their canoes, and paddled away. 
"We went up the country to fome didance, and found the 
face of it nearly the fame with that which has been deferibed 
already, but the foil was much richer ; for indead of fand , I 
found a deep black mould, which I thought very fit for the 
produftion of grain of any kind. In the wood's we fonnd a tree- 
which bore fruit that in colour and (hape refembled a cherry f 
the juice had an- agreeable tartnefs, though but little flavour. 
We found alfo interfperfed fome of the- fined meadows in the 
world ; fome places however were rocky, but thefe were com- 
paratively few : the done is fandy, and might be ufed with, 
advantage for building. When we returned to the boat, we 
faw fome fmoke upon another part of the coad, and went thi- 
ther in hopes of meeting with the people, but at our approach, 
thefe alfo ran away. We found fix finall canoes, and fix fires 
very 
