State Library of NSW
Remarks etc Ulietea
1769 August of this Island into one of them I intended to go with the Ship in order to stop a Leak in the powder room which could not be easily done at Sea & to take in more Ballast as I found her too light to carry sail upon a wind. at Noon plying off one of the harbours mouth the wind being right out ------------- Wednesday 2nd Modte breezes at SE & East with some Showers of Rain at 3 pm Anchor'd in the Entrance of the Channell leading into the Harbour in 14 fam water found a tide setting pretty strong out which was the reason that we could not work in, carried out the Kedge Anchor in order to wasp into the Harbour but after this was done we could not Trip the Bower Anchor with all the purchass we could make & was therefore obliged to lay still all night but in the morning we did it with Ease & warped the Ship into a proper birth & moor'd in 28 fam a sandy bottom. A great number of natives came off to us both last night & this morning & brought with them Hogs, Fowls, Plantains etc which they parted with at a very easy rate. ----- Thursday 3rd Winds from ESE to NE very Hot weather this afternoon. I went ashore to look for a place to get stones for Ballast & a watering place both of which I found very convenient & this morning sent an officer ashore to Superintend the getting of the Ballast & Water & I went in the Pinnace to the Northward to survey that part of the Island accompanied by Mr Banks & Dr Solander while the Carpenters were Employ'd on board stopping the Leakes of the Powder room, & Fore sail room -------- Friday 4th First & Latterparts moderate breezes at ENE in the night calm. Hot & Sultry in our rout to the Northward this afternoon we were Entertain'd at one place with Musick & Dancing the Musick consisted of 3 Drums & the Dancing was mostly perform'd by 2 Young Women & one Man & this seem'd to be their profession, the dress of the women was such as we had not seen before, it was neat decent & well chose & in many respects not much unlike a European dress, only their Arms Necks & Shoulders were bare & their head dress was the Tomow stuck with Flowers. they made very little use of their feet & Legs in Dancing but one part or another of their bodies were in continual motion & in Various postures as standing sitting upon their Hands & Knees making strange Contorsions their Arms, Hands & Fingers they moved with great Agility & in a very Extraordinary manner & altho' they were very exact in observing the same motion in all their movements yet
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