Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 6]
every one of which were tolerably well understood by ye Indian who accompanied us.
From these brave people we departed on the 1st of April 1770, & steering a Course nearly West in the 19th of ye same month fell in wth the coast of new Holland in Late 38 S. a coast which had never before been investigated by any navigator. Along this Coast we sail'd often carrying to an Anchor, generally in very fine Harbours, 'till on ye 10th of June we struck upon a Rock in Late 15 S. nearly about ye same place where Mr. Bougainville heard ye voice of God: on this Rock we lay 23 hours in ye utmost danger, & when ye ship got off, which was effected by throwing overboard almost every thing heavy, we found her so leaky that she would hardly swim: we got her however into a small harbour, where with great difficulty in two months we refitted her.
During our stay in this harbour, we made friendship wth. several of ye inhabitants, whom from their shy dispositions we had not before well seen; they were of a moderate size but slender Limbed, dark brown, & stark naked both sexes: their