T O T H E S O U T H S E A S . 9
very foul, and full of rocks j abounding with great quantities of fea weed. The
foundings are regular from fourteen, to four fathoms j and, at the bottom of the bay,
there is a fine fandy beach.
During our flay on this iiland, the naturalifts colleited a great many plants, and
other curiofities, moft of which are non-defcript: but an unfortunate accident happened
in one of their excurfionsj Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander, Mr. Buchan, with
feveral attendants, two of whom were negroes, went far up into the country, and
at length afcended the 'hills, which they found covered with fnow, and the air
upon them fo intenfely cold, that they ftaid but a ihort time. On their return,
they miffed their way, and wandered about for a confiderable time, not knowing,
whither they wentj but at length they found their former track. While the naturalifts
were fearching for plants upon the hill, two negroes and a failor, who were
left to guard the liquor and provifion, having made too free with the brandy-bottle,
were rendered incapable of keeping pace with the reft of the company,; who made
all poflible fpeed, hoping to have reached the ftiip before the day cfofed in upon
them, dreading the confequence of being expofed in a Arrange land, and an inhof-
pitable clime j but time, that waits for no man, brought on'the night, which put
an end to their hopes, and excited the moft alarming apprehenfions: Being out.
of breath, fatigued, and difpiriled, and almoft benumbed with cold, particularly
Dr. Solander, infomuch that he was unable to walk, and was carried near two
hours on their ihoulders j and it was thought he would not have furvived the perils
of the enfuing. night. In this haplefs-fituation, they held, a confultation on what
was beft to be attempted for their prefervation, till the light of the morning ihould
return j and determined, if poflible, to kindle a fire, which they happily e'ffe&ed,
gathering together fome wood, and, by the help of their fowling pieces, and
fome paper, fetting it on fire. The cold was fo intenfe, that they found'it would
not be fafe to lie down, left they fhould fall aileep, and be frozen to death; wherefore
they walked round it all night.' The thre^men who were left behind, being
tired, fait down in the woods, and fell ailefep, but one of them providentially fooa
awoke, ftarted up, and, being apprehenfive of the imminent danger they were in,
attempted to roufe his companions., but they were too far funk into the fleep of
death to be recovered. In this forlorn fituation the man could not expeit to fur-
vive them long, and therefore he fled for his life, hallooing as he went along, in
^ hopes