1st May. The captain, Dr. Solander, and myself, and some of the people, making in all ten muskets, resolved to make an excursion into the country. We accordingly did so, and walked till we completely tired ourselves, which was in the evening; seeing by the way only one Indian, who ran from us as soon as he saw us. The soil, wherever we saw it, consisted of either swamps or light sandy soil, on which grew very few species of trees, one,[1] which was large, yielding a gum much like Sanguis draconis; but every place was covered with vast quantities of grass. We saw many Indian houses, and places where they had slept upon the grass without the least shelter. In these we left beads, ribbons, etc. We saw one quadruped about the size of a rabbit. My greyhound just got sight of him, and instantly lamed himself against a stump which lay concealed in the long grass. We saw also the dung of a large animal that had fed on grass, much resembling that of a stag; also the footprints of an animal clawed like a dog or wolf, and as large as the latter, and of a small animal whose feet were like those of a polecat or weasel. The trees overhead abounded very much with loryquets and cockatoos, of which we shot several.
2nd. The morning was rainy, and we had already so many plants that we were well contented to find an excuse for staying on board to examine them a little. In the afternoon, however, it cleared up, and we returned to our old occupation of collecting, in which we had our usual good success. Tupia, who strayed from us in pursuit of parrots, of which he shot several, told us on his return that he had seen nine Indians, who ran from him as soon as they perceived him.
3rd. Our collection of plants was now grown so immensely large that it was necessary that some extraordinary care should be taken of them, lest they should spoil in the books. I therefore devoted this day to that business, and carried ashore all the drying paper, nearly 200 quires, of which the larger part was full, and spreading them upon a
- ↑ A species of Eucalyptus, or gum tree.
