Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0247
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[Page 247]
243.
April 1770 off Botany Bay
so we soon lost all hopes of their intending to come off to us a thought with which we once had flatterd ourselves to see something of them however we resolvd & the Yawl a boat just capable of carrying the Captn. Dr Solander myself & 4 rowers was accordingly prepard They sat on the rocks expecting us but when we came within about a quarter of a mile they ran away hastily into the countrey they appeard to us as well as we could judge at that distance exceedingly black near the place were four small canoes which they left behind the surf was too great to permit us with a single boat & that so small to attempt to land so we were obligd to content ourselves with gazing from the boat at the productions of nature which we so much wishd to enjoy a nearer acquaintance with the trees were not very large & stood seperate from each other without the least underwood, among them we could discern many cabbage trees but nothing else which we could call by any name in the course of the night many fires were seen
28. The land this morn appeard Cliffy & barren without wood an opening appearing like a harbour was seen & we stood directly in for it a small smoak arising from a very barren place directed our