A General History & Collection of Voyages and Travels ... - Nauticus

myself the morning after my arrival, at day-break, to look for some, and returned on board atbreakfast with a boat-load. Being now satisfied, that enough was to be got for the crews of bothships, I gave orders that they should be boiled, with wheat and portable broth, every morning forbreakfast; and with peas and broth for dinner; knowing from experience, that these vegetables, thusdressed, are extremely beneficial, in removing all manner of scorbutic complaints.I have already mentioned a desire I had of visiting Van Diemen's Land, in order to inform myself ifit made a part of New Holland; and I certainly should have done this, had the winds provedfavourable. But as Captain Furneaux had now, in a great measure, cleared up that point, I could haveno business there; and therefore came to a resolution to continue our researches to the east, betweenthe latitudes of 41° and 46°. I acquainted Captain Furneaux therewith, and ordered him to get hisship in readiness to put to sea as soon as possible.In the morning of the 20th, I sent ashore, to the watering-place near the Adventure's tent, the onlyewe and ram remaining, of those which I brought from the Cape of Good Hope, with an intent toleave them in this country. Soon after I visited the several gardens Captain Furneaux had caused tobe made and planted with various articles; all of which were in a flourishing state, and, if attended toby the natives, may prove of great utility to them. The next day I set some men to work to make agarden on Long Island, which I planted with garden seeds, roots, &c.On the 22d in the morning, the ewe and ram, I had with so much care and trouble brought to thisplace, were both found dead, occasioned, as was supposed, by eating some poisonous plant. Thusmy hopes of stocking this country with a breed of sheep, were blasted in a moment. About noon, wewere visited, for the first time since I arrived, by some of the natives, who dined with us; and it wasnot a little they devoured. In the evening they were dismissed with presents.[1][1] Mr G.F. represents these people as very like those which had been seen at Dusky Bay,only much more familiar. At dinner, it is said, they would not drink either wine or brandy,but took large quantities of water sweetened with sugar, of which they were very fond.They shewed extreme covetousness, but were readily induced to lay down what they hadseized on. They seemed to have acquaintance with the value of iron, and highly prized anything made of it.--E.Early in the morning of the 24th, I sent Mr Gilbert the master to sound about the rock we haddiscovered in the entrance of the sound. Myself, accompanied by Captain Furneaux and Mr Forster,went in a boat to the west bay on a shooting party. In our way, we met a large canoe in which werefourteen or fifteen people. One of the first questions they asked was for Tupia, the person I broughtfrom Otaheite on my former voyage; and they seemed to express some concern when we told themhe was dead. These people made the same enquiry of Captain Furneaux when he first arrived; and,on my return to the ship in the evening, I was told that a canoe had been along- side, the people inwhich seemed to be strangers, and who also enquired for Tupia.[2] Late in the evening Mr Gilbertreturned, having sounded all round the rock, which he found to be very small and steep.[2] "When they were told that he was dead, they seemed much concerned, and pronouncedsome words in a plaintive voice. So much had this man's superior knowledge, and hisability to converse in their language, rendered him valuable and beloved, even among anation in a state of barbarism. Perhaps with the capacity which Providence had allotted tohim, and which had been cultivated no farther than the simplicity of his education wouldpermit, he was more adapted to raise the New Zealanders to a state of civilization similar tothat of his own islands than ourselves, to whom the want of the intermediate links, whichconnect their narrow views to our extended sphere of knowledge, must prove an obstacle insuch an undertaking."--G.F.