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

Transcription

[Page 315]

211.
July 1770    Endeavours River

smallness of our numbers would induce them not to be afraid of us; when we came to the place however they were gone probably upon having discoverd us before we saw them
the fire was in an old tree of touchwood  their houses were there & branches of trees broken down with which the Children had been playing not yet wither'd  their footsteps also upon the sand below the high tide mark provd that they had very lately been there; near their oven  in which victuals had been dressd since morn  were shells of a kind of Clam & roots of a wild Yam which had been cookd in it; thus were we disapointed of the only good chance we have had of seing the people since we came here by their unacountable timidity  & Night soon coming on we repaird to our quarters  which was upon a broad sand bank under the shade of a Bush where we hopd the Musquetos would not trouble us  our beds were of plantain leaves spread on the sand which was as soft as a mattrass our Cloaks for bedcloths & grass pillows  but above all the intire absence of Musquetos made me & I beleive all of us sleep almost without intermission  had the Indians came they would certainly have caught us all Napping but that was the least in our thoughts

 

Current Status: 
Completed