do ours with furs, etc. While we lay here I went upon some of the Hills in order to View the Country, but when I came there I could see but very little of it, the sight being interrupted by still higher hills. The Tops and ridges of the Hills are for the most part barren, at least little grows on them but fern; but the Valleys and sides of many of the Hills were luxuriously clothed with woods and Verdure and little Plantations of the Natives lying dispers'd up and down the Country. We found in the Woods, Trees of above 20 different sorts; Specimens of each I took on board, as all of them were unknown to any of us. The Tree which we cut for firing was something like Maple and yeilded a whitish Gum. There was another sort of a deep Yellow which we imagin'd might prove useful in dying. We likewise found one Cabage Tree[1] which we cut down for the sake of the cabage. The Country abounds with a great Number of Plants, and the woods with as great a variety of beautiful birds, many of them unknown to us. The soil of both the hills and Valleys is light and sandy, and very proper for producing all kinds of Roots, but we saw only sweet potatoes and Yams among them; these they plant in little round hills, and have plantations of them containing several Acres neatly laid out and keept in good order, and many of them are fenced in with low paling which can only serve for Ornament.
Monday, 30th.—P.M. little wind and cloudy weather. At 1 Tack'd and stood in shore; at 7 o'Clock Tolaga Bay bore W.N.W., distant one League. Tack'd and lay her head off; had it calm until 2 a.m., when a breeze sprung up at S.W., and we made Sail to the Northward. At 6, Gable end Foreland bore S.S.W., and Tolaga bay S.S.W. ¼ W., distance 3 Leagues. At 8, being about 2 Miles from the shore, some Canoes that were fishing came after the Ship; but we having a fresh of wind they could not come up with us, and I did not chuse to wait for them. At Noon, Latitude per observation 37° 49′ S., a small Island lying off the Northernmost land in sight, bore N. 16° E., distant 4 Miles; course from Tolaga bay N. by E. ½ E., distance 13 Leagues. The Land from thence is of a moderate but unequal height, forming several small bays wherein are sandy beaches. Hazey, cloudy weather prevented us from seeing much of the inland country, but near the Shore we could see several Villages and Plantations of the Natives. Soundings from 20 to 30 fathoms.
Tuesday, 31st.—At half-past one p.m. hauled round the Island above mentioned, which lies E. 1 Mile from the N.E. point of the land. The lands from hence Trends N.W. by W., and W.N.W., as far as we could see. This point of Land I have called East Cape, because I have great reason to think that it is the Eastermost land
- ↑ Palm.
