Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0432
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 432]
328
Savu
flocks of sheep, but no houses or plantations. at last however one was discoverd in a grove of Cocoa nut trees, & it was resolvd to send a boat in order to attempt a commerce with people who seemd so well able to supply our many Necessities; the ship ply'd off & on & a Lieutenant went; before he returnd we saw on the Hills 2 men on horseback, who seemd to ride as for their amusement, looking often at the ship; a circumstance which made us at once conclude that their were Europeans among the Islanders by whoom we should be receivd at least more indecipherable politely than we were us'd to be by uncivilizd Indians.
After a very short stay he returnd bringing word that he had seen Indians in all respects as colour dress &c. much resembling the Malays that they very civily invited him ashore & conversd with him by signs but neither party could understand the other they were totaly unarmd except the knives which they wore in their girdles & had with them a Jackass a sure sign that