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Bounty Logbook Sep 2, 1788

299 [Continued])

Winds	Ther	Rems. Tuesday 2nd. September 1788
		Moderate and fair Wr. Employed completing the Wood and Cutting Brooms. Caught many fine Rock Cod, and saw many Whales in the Bay.
	54	The Natives not coming near us I determined in the morning to go to the low land where we still saw the Fires. Accordingly I set out in the Cutter acompanied by Mr Nelson, and got there about 11 oClock, but I found so very great a surf running I could not land, I therefore remained at a Grapnel with the hopes that some of the Natives would come down to me, for we passed several Fires, and I was sure they were in the neighbourhood. After waiting near an hour we were surprized to see a White man come out of the Woods towards the Boat. This proved to be Wm. Brown Mr Nelson's assistant, who had travelled so far in quest of Plants. The Sea would not allow us to have any communication with him but understood he had been with the Natives. I waved to him to return to the Ship, and soon after he was gone. We heard the noise of the Natives which resemble the Cackling of Geese. Immediately after we saw about Twenty of them, twelve of whom came down to the Rocks, the others remaining behind. I concluded they were the Women. I got the Boat within Twenty yards, and threw nails Beads and other trifles to them which seemed to give them but little pleasure: for to throw them safe on shore I tyed them up in paper, and notwithstanding I showed them the Contents, it was not untill we left them that they opened it. I then returned again when they laid every thing aside and would not show us they took notice of what we had given them. After throwing a few Nails on shore again and finding it totally impracticable to land I made signs for them to go to the ship and left them.
SWly	52
	46
N	46
	46

(300

Winds	Ther	Rems. Tuesday 2nd. September 1788
		When they first came in sight they made a prodigious clattering of speech extending their arms over they heads. I made signs for them to come nearer which they did, and placed themselves close to the break of the Sea. I could not take up one Single word they uttered, their speech being so remarkably quick, our signs to one the other were numerous, and I had every reason to understand they knew the ship was in the Bay. One agreeable circumstance happened, which serves to identify that these are the very People seen by Captn. Cook when he was here. A Person among them was the very same he describes being deformed, and Mr. Nelson remembered him very well, of course we may then justly infer that these People always reside hereabouts. Only a few of them had the Weapon already described, a short small Stick about two or three feet long. The Colour of these people are naturally black. Their skin was scarifyed about the shoulders and breast. They were of middling stature or rather below it. One of them had his Body discoloured with red oaker [ochre], but all the others had laid an additional Coat of black over their Faces & Shoulder, and it was laid on so thick that it totally prevented me at this distance, to say any thing exact of their features; but upon the whole taking things as they first strike one, which often proves a very just method; they appeared like Pygmys. They were certainly wooly headed as much as ever a negroe was, and I shall ever continue of that opinion untill I hear of convincing proofs to the contrary. Their teeth appeared remarkably white. They run very nimbly over the Rocks. They talked to us sitting on their Heels, with their Knees close in to their Arm Pitts. They have a quick Eye as they caught small nails and Beads I threw to them with some cleverness; but upon the whole they are perhaps the most wretched & stupid People existing. Yet they are with this no doubt the most inoffensive. I regretted much I could not land among them for which they made Signs to me, but hoping for a nearer Interview I left them.
		I now rowed over to go on the heights above Pengwin Island to take a view of the Country where I discovered the Bay of Fredrick Henry. The lowland which connects the Cape and forms the NW part of this Bay is a long narrow Isthmus apparently in some places not 500 yards across, and the Sea seemed to run well up to the SW of it. To the NW it had considerable extent, perhaps 4 or 5 leagues, and I could easily observe that a low Island was situated about the middle of the Bay. The Entrance is round C. Fredrick Henry, which I consider to make the East part of it, as it does the North of this, at least, it cannot be far from it, and I have no doubt but it is a most capacious and excellent Harbour and most likely little or no Surf on the shores, which is more or less an attendant on this place; but this has still many advantages, it is easy of access and most perfectly safe, with a free outlet on an emergency at any time.

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