34 A V O Y A G E O F D I S C O V E R Y
1791. This kind of-balket hut was covered with the bark of trees, and fmall
.Sept m ^ green boughs; its back was oppofed to the n.w . whence we concluded
thofe to be the moft prevailing winds ; juft within its. front,, which was
open the whole of its diameter, a fire had been made, but excepting the
{kin of the fifh before mentioned, there were neither bones, {hells, nor
other indication on what its poor inhabitant had fubfifted. The reflections
which naturally arofe on feeing fo miferable a contrivance for
{helter againft the inclemency of feafons, were humiliating in the higheft
degree; as they fuggefted in the ftrongeft manner the lowly condition
of fome of our fellow creatures, rendered yet more pitiable by the appa,
rent folitude and the melancholy afpeH of the furrounding country,
which prefented little lefs than famine and diftrefs, ;
The fhores confifted either of fteep naked rocks, or a milk-white.barren
fand, beyond which dreary boundary, the furface of the ground feemed
covered by a deadly green herbage, with, here and there, a few groveling
flirubs or dwarf trees fcattered at a great diftance from each other. This
very unfavorable appearance may not, however, originate from the general
fterility of the foil, fince it was evident, fo far as we traverfed the fides
of the hills, that the vegetation had recently undergone the a&ion of fire;
the largeft of the trees had been burnt, though {lightly ; every flirub had
fome of its branches completely charred; and the plants lying clofe to
the ground had not efcaped without injury. Thus entertaining no very
high opinion of the country, but in the hope of meeting wjth fome of the
wretched inhabitants, we proceeded along the fhores of the found, to the
northward, to a high rocky point that obtained the name of P oin t
P o s s e s s i o n ; and, on reaching its fummit, we gained an excellent
view of the found in all direfiions. When on board, we had fuppofed
that the found branched into three arms, but it now. became evident
that there were only two. One, immediately behind this point which
is alfo its fouthern point o f entrance, extended in a circular form, about a
league acrofs, bounded by a country much refembling that before de-
fcribed, though producing more trees, and with verdure of a livelier
hue, and approaching more nearly to the water’s edge. The other, lying
about 3 miles to the n . e , feemed almoft as fpacious, though its entrance
appeared
appeared very narrow. The furrounding country in its neighbourhood ‘ 79‘-
prefented a far more fertile and pleafing afpefl. Nearly in the center of |Seplcmbcr;
that harbour, was an ifland covered with the moft beautiful herbage;
and inftead of the naked rocks and barren fands that compofe the coaft
o f the found, the cliffs which bounded thefe fhores feemed of a reddifh
•clay,- and the general texture or charafter of the foil, appeared to be
more favorable to the vegetable kingdom, as from the fumniits of the
hills to the water fide was feen a {lately and luxuriant foreft,
The neceflary oldervations being made at this ftation, the Britifh
colours Were difplayed, and having drank His Majefty’s health, accompanied
by the ufual formalities on fuch occafions, we took pofleflion of
the country from the land we faw north-weftward of Cape Chatham, fo
far as we might explore its coafts, in the name of His prefent Majefty,
for him and for his heirs and fucceflors. This port, the firft which
wO had difcovered, I honored with the name of K ing G eorge the
.T h ir d ’s S ound ; and this day being the anniverfary of Her Royal
Highnefs Princefs Charlotte Augufta Matilda’s birth, the harbour behind
Point Pofleflion I called P rincess R o y a l H ar bo u r ; which with the
found formed Point Pofleflion into a peninfula, united to the main by a
very narrow barren fandy beach. Here although we could not difcover
the leaft trace o f its having at any time been the refort of the natives,
yet in every part where we ftrayed, were feen the fame effefts o f fire on
all the vegetable productions.
The ceremony of taking pofleflion being finilhed, we found a paflage,
harrow and {hoal for fome diftance, into the north-eaftern harbour;
where a bar was found to extend acrofs its entrance, on which there
was only three fathoms water. Within the harbour, the deep water
feemed to occupy fome fpace to the n.e. and N.w.; but the day was
too far advanced to permit our making any particular examination. The
verdant ifland covered with luxuriant grafs and other vegetables terminated
the extent of our refearches; and as the fituation of the veflels
feemed as convenient as any other for procuring what the found might afford,
I determined to return on board, and lofe no time in availing myfelf
o f the benefits it prefented. In our way out of this harbour, the boats
F 2 grounded