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

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

Current Status: 
Completed