1769* . fuccefs of our lines here, we called the place Bream Bay';
November.4 « * : • . ■ •
a.— t the two points that form it lie north and fouth, five leagues
Friday 24. f rom each o th e r ; it is every where of a good breadth, and
between three and fou r leagues deep: at the bottom of it
there appears to be a river of frelh water. The north head
of the bay, called Bream H ead, is high land, and remarkable
for feveral pointed rocks, which Hand in a range upon
the top of it: it may alfo be known by fome fmall iflands
which lie before it, called the H en and C hickens, one of
which is high, and terminates in two peaks. It lies in latitude
3j,°4f' S., and at the diftance of feventeen leagues and
an half from Cape Colville,, in. the direction of N. 41 W..
The land between Point Rodney and Bream Head, an extent
of ten leagues, is low, and wooded in tufts, with white
fand banks between the fea and the firm lands. We faw no
inhabitants, but many fires in tire night; and where there
are fires, there are always people.
Saturday 2;. At day-break, on the 25th, we left the bay, and fleered
along Ihore to the northward: we found the variation of
the compafs to be rz° 42' E. At noon, our latitude was 36®
36' S., Bream Head bore fouth, diftant ten miles; and we
faw fome fmall iflands, to which I gave the name of the Poor-
K n ig h t s , atN. E. by N. diftant three leagues ; the norther-
moft land in fight bore N. N. W.: we were in this place at the
diftance of two miles from the fhore, and had twenty-fix fathom
water.
The country appeared low, but well covered with wood:
we faw fome ftraggling houfes, three or four fortified towns,
and near them a large quantity,of cultivated land.
In the evening, feven large canoes eame off to us, with
about two hundred men: fome o f them came on board, and
faid that they had heard of us. To two of them, who appeared
R O U N D T H E WORLD.
peared to be Chiefs, I gave prefents; but when thefe were
gone out of the Ihip, the others became exceedingly trouble- 1---- ---->
o . ' i i Saturday 25, fome. Some of thofe in the canoes began to trade, and, ac-
cording to their cuftom, to cheat, by refufing to deliver
what had been bought, after they had received the price:
among thefe was one who had received an old pair of black
breeches-, which, upon a few fmall ftiot being fired at him,,
he threw into the fea. All the boats foon after paddled off to
fome diftance, and when they thought they were out of
reach, they began to defy us, by finging their fong and
brandifhing their weapons. We thought it advifable to intimidate
them, as well for their fakes as our own, and'
therefore fired firft fome fmall arms, and then round fhor
over their heads; the laft put them in a terrible fright,
though they received no damage, except by over-heating
themfelves in paddling away, which they did with aflonifh-
ing expedition.
In the night we had variable light airs ; but towards the Sunday 26..
morning a breeze fprung up at S. and afterwards at S. E.
with which we proceeded flowly to the northward, along,
the ftiore.
Between fix and feven o’clock two canoes came off, and
told us that they had heard of yefterday’s adventure, not-
withftanding which, the people came on board, and traded
very quietly and honeftly for whatever they had i foon after
two canoes came off from a more diftant part of the lliore ;
thefe were of a much larger fize, and full of people: when
they came near, they called off the other canoes which were
along fide of the fhip, and after as fhort conference they all
came up together. The ftrangers appeared to be perfons of
a fuperior rank; their canoes were well carved with manyornaments,
and they had with them a great variety of wea-
* pons |: