Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0071
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 71]
67.
Novr. 1769. off Mercury bay
than places to retire to in case of Danger which are totaly evacuated in peaceable times at 12 the Continent appeard still rocky & barren few houses were seen they were not built in towns but stood seperate about dinner time 3 Canoes came alongside of much the most simple construction of any we have seen being no more than the trunks of trees hollowd out by fire without the least carving or even the addition of a washboard on their gunnels the people in them were almost naked & blacker than any we had seen only 21 in all yet these few despicable gentry sang their song of defiance & promisd us as heartily as the most respectable of their countrey men that they would kill us all they remaind some time out of stones throw but at last venturd close to the ship one of our people gave them a rope from the side to save them the trouble of Padling this they accepted & rewarded the man who gave it by thrusting at him with a pike which however took no effect they then went a few yards from the ship & threw a lance into her which struck nobody a musquet was fird over them on which they all went off
late in the evening the ship came