Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0195
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[Page 195]
191.
Some account of New Zealand
capacitys from these descending through the less informd Quadrupeds & birds to the fish & insects which seem besides the instinct of Fear which is given them for self preservation to be movd only by the stings of hunger to eat & those of lust to propagate their species which when born are left intirely to their own care & at last by the medium of the Oyster, &c. &c. which not being able to move but as tost about by the waves must in themselves be furnishd with both sexes that the species may be continued shading itself away into the vegetable kingdom for the preservation of whoom neither sensation nor instinct is wanting whoever considers this I say will easily see that no Conclusion in favour of such a practise can be drawn from the practises actions of a race of beings placd so infinitely below us in the order of Nature
But to return to my subject. Simple as their food is their Cookery as far as I saw is as simple a few stones heated hot & laid in a hole their meat laid upon them & coverd with Hay seems to be the most dificult part of it fish & birds they generaly broil or rather toast spitting them upon a long skewer the bottom of which is fixd under a stone & another stone being put under the fore part of the skewer it is raisd or lowerd by moving that stone as the circumstances may require the Fern roots are layd