Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0327
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[Page 327]
223.
July 1770 Endeavours River
Leaving a man & a boy to take care of them & came on board the ship. they soon let us know their errand which was by some means or other to get one of our Turtle of which we had 8 or 9 laying upon the decks they first by signs askd for One & on being refusd shewd great marks of Resentment one who had askd me on my refusal stamping with his foot pushd me from him with a countenance full of disdain & applyd to some one else; as however they met with no encouragement in this they laid hold of a turtle and hauld him forwards towards the side of the ship where their canoe lay it however was soon taken from them & replacd they nevertheless repeated the expiriment 2 or 3 times & after meeting with so many repulses all in an instant leapd into their Canoe & went ashore where I had got before them Just ready to set out plant gathering they seizd their arms in an instant & taking fire from under a pitch kettle which was boiling they began to set fire to the grass to windward of the few things we had left ashore with surprizing dexterity & quickness; the grass