of'the highefthill that be afcended in his expedition through
the woods, he faw the footfleps of a large beaft imprinted
upon the furface of a bog, though he could not with any
probability guefs of what kind it might be.
Of land-birds there are but few; Mr. Banks faw none
larger than an Englilh blackbird, except fome hawks and a
vulture; but o f water-fowl there is great plenty, particularly
ducks. Of filh we faw fcarce any, and with our hooks could
catch none that was fit to eat; but fhell-fifh, limpets, clams,
and mufcles were to be found in abundance.
Among the infers, which were not numerous, there was
neither gnat nor mufquito, nor any other fpecies that was
either hurtful or troublefome, which perhaps is more than
can be faid of any other uncleared country. During the
fnow-blafts, which happened every day while we were here,
they hide themfelves; and the moment it is fair they appear
again, as nimble and vigorous as the warmeft weather could
make them.
Of plants, Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander found a vaft variety
; the far greater part wholly different from any that
have been hitherto defcribed. Befides the birch, and winter’s
bark, which have been mentioned already, there is the
beach, Fagus tmtarflicus, which, as well as the birch, may be
ufed for timber. The plants cannot be enumerated here;
but as the fcurvy-grafs, Cardamine antifcorbutica, and the wild
celery, Apium antardicum, probably contain antifcorbutic qualities,
which may be of great benefit to the crews of fuch
Ihips as fhall hereafter touch at this place, the following
fhort defcription is inferted :
The fcurvy-grafs will be found in plenty in damp places,
near fprings of water, and in general in all places that lie
near the beach, efpecially at the watering-place in the Bay
of
of Good Succefs: when it is young, the ftate of its greatell
perfection, it lies flat upon the ground, having many leaves
of a bright green, Handing in pairs oppofite to each other,
with a Angle one at the end, which generally makes the fifth
upon a foot ftalk: the plant, palling from this Hate, fhoots
up in ftalks that are fometimes two feet high, at the top of
which are fmall white blofioms, and thefe are fucceeded by
long pods: the whole plant greatly refembles that which in
England is called Lady’s fmock, or Cuckow-flower. The
wild celery is very like the celery in our gardens, the flowers
are white, and Hand in the fame manner, in fmall tufts at
the top of the branches, but the leaves are of a deeper green.
It grows in great abundance near the beach, and generally
upon the foil that lies next above the fpring tides. It may
indeed eafily be known by the tafte, which is between that
o f celery and parfley. We ufed the celery in large quantities,
particularly in our foup, which, thus medicated, produced
the fame good effedts which feamen generally derive
from a vegetable diet, after having been long confined to fait
provifions.
1769.
January.
On Sunday the 22d of January, about two o’clock in the Sunday22.
morning, having got our wood and water on board, we failed
out of the Bay, and continued our courfe through the
Streight.
I 2 CHAP .