Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0353
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[Page 353]
249.
August 1770. At Anchor within the Reef
happy to have escap'd from how little do men know what is for their real advantage two days our utmost wishes were crownd by getting out of without the reef & today we were made again happy by getting within it
17. As we were now safe at an anchor it was resolvd to send the boats upon the nearest shoal to search for shell fish turtle or whatever else they could get they accordingly went & Dr Solander & myself accompanied them in my small boat in our way we met with two water snakes one 5 the other 6 feet long we took them both they much resembled Land snakes only their tails were flatted sideways I suppose for the convenience of swimming & were not venomous the shoal we went upon was the very reef we had so near been lost upon yesterday now no longer terrible to us; it afforded little provision for the ship no turtle only 300lb of Great cockles some were however of an immense size we had in the way of curiosity much better success meeting with many curious fish & mollusca besides Corals of many species all alive among which