Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 - No. 0293
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[Page 293]
Georges Land
April 1769
about a mile farther than this point river we went when the Land became again as barren as possible the rocks every where projecting into the sea so we resolvd to return soon after this resolution one of the natives made us an offer of refreshment which we accepted he was remarkable for being much the whitest man we had seen on examining him more nearly his skin was dead pale without the least signs of Complexion in any part of it some parts were lighter than others but the darkest was lighter than any of our skins his hair & eyebrows & beard were as white as his skin his eyes bloodshot he apeard to be very short sighted his whole body was scurfy maybe disease had been the cause of his colour if not we shall see more such on our return met Lycurgus who seem'd much rejoicd at seeing us as did all his women to shew their regard I suppose they all cry'd most heartily
25. I do not know by what accident I have so long omitted to mention how much these people are given to theiving I will make up for my neglect however today by saying that great & small cheifs & common men all are firmly of opinion that if they can once get possession of any thing it immediately becomes their own this we were convincd of the very second day we were here the cheifs were employd in stealing what they could in the Cabbin while their dependants took every thing that was loose about the ship even the glass ports not escaping them of which they got off with 2. Lycurgus & Hercules were the only two who had not yet been found guilty but they stood in our opinion but upon tickilish ground as we could not well suppose them intirely free from a vice their countrey men were