Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0277
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 277]
273.
May 1770. Keppels Bay
& a kind of white bird calld by the seamen Egg bird Sterna....... before I went out we tried in the Cabbin to fish with hook & line but the water was too shoal (3 fhm) for any fish this want was however in some degree by Crabs of which vast numbers were on the ground who readily took our baits & sometimes held them so fast with their claws that they sufferd themselves to be hawld into the ship they were of 2 sorts Cancer pelagicus Linn & another much like the former but not so beautifull the first was ornamented with the finest ultramarine blew conceivable with which all his claws & every Joint was deeply tingd the under part of him was a lovely white shining as if glazd & perfectly resembling the white of old China the other had a little of the ultramarine on his Joints & toes & on his back 3 very remarkable brown spots. 2 fires were seen upon an Island, & those who went to sound in the boats saw people upon an Island also who calld to them & seemd very desirous that they should land. in examining a fig which we had