At daylight in the morning we discover'd a Bay which appeared to be tolerably well shelter'd from all winds, into which I resolved to go with the Ship, and with this View sent the Master in the Pinnace to sound the Entrance while we keept turning up with the Ship, having the wind right out. In the P.M. wind Southerly and Clear weather, with which we stood into the bay. Saw, as we came in, on both points of the bay, several of the Natives and a few hutts; Men, Women , and Children on the S. Shore abreast of the Ship, to which place I went I went in the Boats in hopes of speaking with them, accompanied by Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander and Tupia. As we approached the Shore they all made off, except 2 Men who seem'd resolved to oppose our landing. As soon as I saw this I order'd the boats to lay upon their Oars, in order to speak to them; but this was to little purpose, for neither of us nor Tupia could understand one word they said.
We found here a few small huts made of the Bark of Trees, in one of which are 4 or 5 small children with whom we left strings of beads, etc. - After searching for fresh water without success, except a little in a Small hole dug in the sand, we embarqued, and went over to the N. point of the bay, where in coming in we saw several people; but when we landed now there were nobody to be seen. 01.05.1770 The woods are free from underwood of every kind, and the trees are at such a distance from one another that the whole Country, or at least great part of it, might be Cultivated without being obliged to cut down a single tree. In the woods between the Trees Dr. Solander had a bare sight of a Small Animal something like a Rabbit, and we found the Dung of an Animal which must feed upon Grass, and which, we judge, could not be less than a Deer; we also saw the Track of a Dog, or some such like Animal. An excursion into the woods showed that they were free from underwood of every kind, and the trees are at such distances from one another that the whole Country, or at least a great part of it, might be cultivated without being obliged to cut down a single tree.
