Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0126
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 126]
122
Totara nue
they had in their canoes some fish which they offerd to sell & we to buy so a man in a small boat was dispatchd among them to trade he bought several bundles which they sold very fairly when one Indian seeing his opportunity snatchd at the paper trade which he had in his hand but missing immediately put himself in a posture of defence flourishing his patoo-patoo as if he meant to strike a musquet load of small shot was fird at him a few of which struck his knee, the rest missd him on which they boats all left of to trade but paddled peaceably enough round the ship & at last came under the stern to Tupia &discoursd with him about their antiquity & Legends of their ancestors
The women in these canoes & some of the men had a peice of Dress which we had not before seen which was a bunch of black feathers made round & tied upon the top of their heads which it intirely coverd making them look twice as large as they realy were on seeing this my Judgement paid an involuntary compliment to my fair English contrey women for led astray by this