This page has already been transcribed. You can find new pages to transcribe here.

Transcription

[Page 55]

51
Octr 1769   Tegadu Bay

with them yet they did not neglect their ordinary occupations   in the morn several boats went out fishing   at dinner time every one went to their respective homes & after a certain time returnd  such fair appearances made Dr Solander & myself almost trust them  we rangd all about the bay & were well repaid by finding many plants & shooting some most beautifull birds   in doing this we visited several houses & saw a little of their customs  for they were not at all shy of shewing us any thing we desird to see  nor did they on our account interrupt their meals the only employment we saw them engagd in

Their food at this time of the year consisted of Fish with which instead of bread they eat the roots of a kind of Fern Pteris crenulata very like that which grows upon our commons in England   these were a little roasted on the fire & then beat with a stick which took off the bark & dry outside   what remaind had a sweetish clammyness in it not disagreable to the taste  it might be esteemd a tolerable food was it not for the quantity of strings & fibres in it which in quantity 3 or 4 times exceeded the soft part   these were swallowd

Current Status: 
Completed