U7?j hardfhips which we underwent of various kinds; efpeci- ally that of having, for the greater part of the above-mentioned period, remained in exceflively cold latitudes, con-, tinually furrounded with ice., The aurora aujlralis, which in the fouth is the fame as the northern lights in our he- mifphere, a fpedtacle never before feen by a European, now appeared feveral times in the month of March, on the 26th day of which" month we anchored in Dujky-bay, iituated near the fouthernmoft promontory of New Zealand. From hence we went to CoolC s-Jlrait, where we had a fight of that-mod lingular junction o f the water with the clouds, which by failors is called the water-fpout; and the next day, being the 18th of April, we anchored in §ueen Charlotte's-found. The other ihip, the Adventure, had been feparated from us ever fince the 8th o f January in the preceding year, by a fog. After this fhe had invefti- gated the weftern coaft: o f Van Diemen’s Land in New Holland, and a part of the coaft by which it is fuppofed to be joined with South Wales, which latter was difcovered in Captain C ook’s former voyage. It was great" pleafure to us to find, that this ihip had, fortunately for us, landed at the place previouily agreed upon for the rendezvous. *The plants and trees in this country are, excepting fome of its ferns and mofiTes, almoft entirely unknown, and different from thofe that grow in other parts of the globe. Thefe, therefore, together with the new fpecies o f birds and fifties which are to be found here, afforded me an agreeable occupation. The inhabitants, on the other hand, a race of cannibals, live in fuch a miferable condition, and have fuch manners and cuftoms, as may excite our pity. and and compaflion in behalf of our own fpecies; yet, as among civilized nations there are not wanting fuch as are a difgrace to human nature, fo among thefe very de- vourers of their own fpecies, one might difcover fome traces of a good difpofition, as well as the feeds o f ingenuity, which, under the foftering care o f the foul-informing fciences, might render thefe our fellow-creatures, now plunged in darknefs, a much - more virtuous and happy people. This nation chiefly depends on fiihing for its fupport; and by purfuing fuch an uncertain livelihood, they want both time and inclination for agriculture and the mechanical arts, as well as for that order and regularity which is requifite for the prevention of the barbarifm in which thefe poor people are actually plunged. For while they are feeking after their food in the water, they fuffer their lands to be infefted with an uncommonly large kind of flinging nettles, with other weeds and thorny plants, fo that they are very frequently obliged to tranfport their huts to defert ihores, unftable and floating, as are the animals, which they have to purfue in a boundlefs element. Notwithftanding this, the foil poflefles fuch a degree of fecundity, that it is capable of being converted into the moft fertile arable land or vine-yards, fufficient to give food, and other conveniencies of life to a great number o f inhabitants, who, united among themfelves, would compofe a very powerful republic, and be in a condition to extend their commerce and conquefts over the whole Pacific Ocean. (Collate with this my oration on laying down the office of prefident of the royal academy of fciences.) 2 S E C T .
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