State Library of NSW
[Page 214]
Streights of La Maire
a bladder of some beast full of water in one side of this near the top was a hole through which they drank by elevating a little the bottom which made the water spring up into their mouths
In these few hutts & with this small share or rather none at all of what we call the nescessaries and conveniences of life livd about 50 men women and children to all appearance contented with what they had nor wishing for any thing we could give them except beads of these they were very fond preferring ornamental things to those which might be of real use & giving more in exchange for a string of Beids than they would for a knife or a hatchet
As this is to be the last time of our going ashore on this Island I take this opportunity to give such an account of it as such things the shortness of my stay allowd me to observe.
Notwithstanding almost all writers who have mentiond this Island have imputed to it a want of wood soon after we first saw it even at the distance of some leagues we plainly distinguish'd that the largest part
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