Tranfactions in Queen Charlotte's Sound: Passage through the Streight which divides the two Islands, and back to Cape Turnagain: Horrid Cuftom of the Inhabitants : Remarkable Melody of Birds: A Vifit to a Heppah, and many other Particulars.

TH

1770: January.

HE shore at this place feemed to form several bays, into one of which I proposed to carry the ship, which was become very foul, in order to careen her, and at the fame Sunday 14. time repair some defects, and recruit our wood and water.

With this view, I kept plying on and off all night, having

from eighty to fixty-three fathom. At day-break the next Monday 15morning, I ftood for an inlet which runs in S. W.; and at eight I got within the entrance, which may be known by a reef of rocks, stretching from the north west point, and some rocky islands which lie off the fouth east point. At nine: o'clock, there being little wind, and what there was being variable, we were carried by the tide or current within two cables' length of the north weft fhore, where we had fifty-four fathom water, but by the help of our boats we got clear.. Just at this time we saw a fea-lion rife twice near the shore,, the head of which exactly resembled that of the male which has been described in the Account of Lord Anson's Voyage. We also saw some of the natives in a canoe cross the bay, and a village fituated upon the point of an island which lies feven or eight miles within the entrance. At noon, we were the length of this island, but there being little wind, the boats

1770. January.

were ordered ahead to tow. About one o'clock, we hauled close round the south weft end of the island; and the inhaMonday 15. bitants of the village which was built upon it, were immediately up in arms. About two, we anchored in a very fafe and convenient cove, on the north weft fide of the bay, and facing the south west end of the island, in eleven fathom water, with foft ground, and moored with the stream anchor.

We were about four long cannon fhot diftant from the village or Heppah, from which four canoes were immediately dispatched, as we imagined to reconnoitre, and if they should find themselves able, to take us. The men were all well armed, and dreffed nearly as they are reprefented in the figure published by Tasman; two corners of the cloth which they wrapped round the body were paffed over the shoulders from behind, and being brought down to the upper edge of it before, were made faft to it just under the breaft; but few, or none, had feathers in their hair. They rowed round the fhip feveral times, with their usual tokens of menace and defiance, and at last began the affault by throwing fome ftones: Tupia expoftulated with them, but apparently to very little purpofe; and we began to fear that they would oblige us to fire at them, when a very old man in one of the boats expressed a desire of coming on board. We gladly encouraged him in his defign, a rope was thrown into his canoe, and fhe was immediately, alongside of the fhip: the old man rofe up, and prepared to come up the fhip's fide, upon which all the reft expoftulated with great vehemence against the attempt, and at last laid hold of him, and held him back: he adhered however to his purpose with a calm but fteady perfeverance, and having at length difengaged himself, he came on board. We received him with all poffible expreffions of friendship and kindness, and after

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