off to us several large Canoes full of People, but, like those that had been alongside before, would not Enter into a friendly Traffick with us, but would Cheat whenever they had an opportunity. The people in these Canoes made a very good appearance, being all stout well-made men, having their Hair—which was black—comb'd up and tied upon the Crown of their heads, and there stuck with white feathers; in each of the Canoes were 2 or 3 Chiefs, and the Habits of these were rather superior to any we had yet seen. The Cloth they wore was of the best sort, and cover'd on the outside with Dog Skins put on in such a manner as to look Agreeable enough to the Eye. Few of these people were Tattow'd or marked in the face, like those we have seen farther to the South, but several had their Backsides Tattow'd much in the same manner as the inhabitants of the Islands within the Tropics. In the Course of this day, that is this afternoon and Yesterday forenoon, we reckoned that we had not less than 400 or 500 of the Natives alongside and on board the ship, and in that time did not range above 6 or 8 Leagues of the Sea Coast,—a strong proof that this part of the Country must be well inhabited. In the Evening, the Wind came to the Westward of N., and we Tack'd and stood off N.E. until 11 o'Clock, when the wind coming more favourable we stood again to the Westward. At 8 a.m. we were within a Mile of Groups of Islands lying close under the Mainland and N.W. by W. ½ W., distance 22 Miles from Cape Brett. Here we lay for near 2 Hours, having little or no wind. During this time several Canoes came off to the Ship, and 2 or 3 of them sold us some fish—Cavallys as they are called—which occasioned my giving the Islands the same name. After this some others began to Pelt us with Stones, and would not desist at the firing of 2 Musquet Balls thro' one of their Boats; at last I was obliged to pepper 2 or 3 fellows with small Shott, after which they retir'd, and the wind coming at N.W. we stood off to Sea. At Noon, Cavally Islands bore S.W. by S., distant 4 Miles; Cape Brett S.E., distant 7 Leagues, and the Westermost land in sight, making like Islands, bore W. by N.; Lat. in per Observation 34° 55′ S.
Tuesday, 28th.—A Fresh breeze from the Westward all this day, which being right in our teeth, we kept beating to windward with all the sail we could Crowd, but instead of Gaining we lost ground. A.M., being close in with the land to the Westward of the Bay, which lies on this side of Cape Brett, we saw at some distance inland 2 pretty large Villages Pallisaded in the same manner as others we have seen. At noon, Cape Brett S.E. by E. ½ E., distant 6 Leagues; Lat. observed 35° 0′ S.
Wednesday, 29th.—Fresh Gales at N.W. and W.N.W., kept plying to Windward until 7 A.M., and finding that we lost ground
