early australian voyages-第17节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
still increasing； I took in my main…top…sail； being able to carry no more sail than two courses and the mizen。 At two in the morning； August 3rd； it blew very hard； and the sea was much raised； so that I furled all my sails but my mainsail； though the wind blew so hard； we had pretty clear weather till noon； but then the whole sky was blackened with thick clouds； and we had some rain； which would last a quarter of an hour at a time； and then it would blow very fierce while the squalls of rain were over our heads； but as soon as they were gone the wind was by much abated； the stress of the storm being over； we sounded several times； but had no ground till eight o'clock； August the 4th； in the evening； and then had sixty fathom water； coral ground。 At ten we had fifty…six fathom； fine sand。 At twelve we had fifty…five fathom； fine sand； of a pale bluish colour。 It was now pretty moderate weather； yet I made no sail till morning； but then the wind veering about to the south…west； I made sail and stood to the north； and at eleven o'clock the next day； August 5th； we saw land again； at about ten leagues distant。 This noon we were in latitude 25 degrees 30 minutes； and in the afternoon our cook died； an old man； who had been sick a great while； being infirm before we came out of England。
The 6th of August； in the morning； we saw an opening in the land； and we ran into it； and anchored in seven and a half fathom water； two miles from the shore； clean sand。 It was somewhat difficult getting in here； by reason of many shoals we met with； but I sent my boat sounding before me。 The mouth of this sound； which I called Shark's Bay； lies in about 25 degrees south latitude； and our reckoning made its longitude from the Cape of Good Hope to be about 87 degrees； which is less by one hundred and ninety…five leagues than is usually laid down in our common draughts； if our reckoning was right and our glasses did not deceive us。 As soon as I came to anchor in this bay； I sent my boat ashore to seek for fresh water； but in the evening my men returned； having found none。 The next morning I went ashore myself； carrying pickaxes and shovels with me； to dig for water； and axes to cut wood。 We tried in several places for water； but finding none after several trials； nor in several miles compass； we left any further search for it； and spending the rest of the day in cutting wood； we went aboard at night。
The land is of an indifferent height； so that it may be seen nine or ten leagues off。 It appears at a distance very even； but as you come nigher you find there are many gentle risings； though none steep or high。 It is all a steep shore against the open sea； but in this bay or sound we were now in； the land is low by the seaside； rising gradually in with the land。 The mould is sand by the seaside； producing a large sort of samphire； which bears a white flower。 Farther in the mould is reddish； a sort of sand； producing some grass； plants； and shrubs。 The grass grows in great tufts as big as a bushel； here and there a tuft； being intermixed with much heath； much of the kind we have growing on our commons in England。 Of trees or shrubs here are divers sorts； but none above ten feet high； their bodies about three feet about； and five or six feet high before you come to the branches； which are bushy； and composed of small twigs there spreading abroad； though thick set and full of leaves； which were mostly long and narrow。 The colour of the leaves was on one side whitish； and on the other green； and the bark of the trees was generally of the same colour with the leaves； of a pale green。 Some of these trees were sweet…scented； and reddish within the bark； like sassafras； but redder。 Most of the trees and shrubs had at this time either blossoms or berries on them。 The blossoms of the different sorts of trees were of several colours； as red； white； yellow； etc。； but mostly blue； and these generally smelt very sweet and fragrant； as did some also of the rest。 There were also besides some plants； herbs； and tall flowers； some very small flowers growing on the ground； that were sweet and beautiful； and； for the most part； unlike any I had seen elsewhere。
There were but few land fowls。 We saw none but eagles of the larger sorts of birds； but five or six sorts of small birds。 The biggest sort of these were not bigger than larks； some no bigger than wrens； all singing with great variety of fine shrill notes； and we saw some of their nests with young ones in them。 The water…fowls are ducks （which had young ones now； this being the beginning of the spring in these parts）； curlews； galdens； crab…catchers； cormorants； gulls； pelicans； and some water…fowl； such as I have not seen anywhere besides。
The land animals that we saw here were only a sort of raccoons； different from those of the West Indies； chiefly as to their legs； for these have very short forelegs； but go jumping upon them as the others do （and like them are very good meat）； and a sort of guanos； of the same shape and size with other guanos described； but differing from them in three remarkable particulars； for these had a larger and uglier head； and had no tail； and at the rump； instead of the tail there； they had a stump of a tail； which appeared like another head； but not really such； being without mouth or eyes； yet this creature seemed by this means to have a head at each end； and； which may be reckoned a fourth difference； the legs also seemed all four of them to be fore…legs； being all alike in shape and length； and seeming by the joints and bending to be made as if they were to go indifferently either head or tail foremost。 They were speckled black and yellow like toads； and had scales or knobs on their backs like those of crocodiles； plated on to the skin； or stuck into it； as part of the skin。 They are very slow in motion； and when a man comes nigh them they will stand still and hiss； not endeavouring to get away。 Their livers are also spotted black and yellow； and the body； when opened； hath a very unsavoury smell。 I did never see such ugly creatures anywhere but here。 The guanos I have observed to be very good meat； and I have often eaten of them with pleasure； but though I have eaten of snakes； crocodiles； and alligators； and many creatures that look frightfully enough； and there are but few I should have been afraid to eat of if pressed by hunger； yet I think my stomach would scarce have served to venture upon these New Holland guanos； both the looks and the smell of them being so offensive。
The sea…fish that we saw here （for here was no river； land or pond of fresh water to be seen） are chiefly sharks。 There are abundance of them in this particular sound； that I therefore gave it the name of Shark's Bay。 Here are also skates； thornbacks； and other fish of the ray kind （one sort especially like the sea…devil）； and gar…fish； bonetas； etc。 Of shell…fish we got here mussels； periwinkles； limpets； oysters； both of the pearl kind and also eating oysters； as well the common sort as long oysters； besides cockles； etc。 The shore was lined thick with many other sorts of very strange and beautiful shells for variety of colour and shape； most finely spotted with red； black； or yellow； etc。； such as I have not seen anywhere but at this place。 I brought away a great many of them； but lost all except a very few； and those not of the best。
There are also some green turtle weighing about two hundred pounds。 Of these we caught two； which the water ebbing had left behind a ledge of rock which they could not creep over。 These served all my company two days； and they were indifferent sweet meat。 Of the sharks we caught a great many； which our men ate very savourily。 Among them we caught one which was eleven feet long。 The space between its two eyes was twenty inches； and eighteen inches from one corner of his mouth to the other。 Its maw was like a leather sack； very thick； and so tough that a sharp knife could scarce cut it； in which we found the head and bones of a hippopotamus； the hairy lips of which were still sound and not putrified； and the jaw was also firm； out of which we plucked a great many teeth； two of them eight inches long and as big as a man's thumb； small at one end； and a little crooked； the rest not above half so long。 The maw was full of jelly； which stank extremely。 However； I saved for awhile the teeth and the shark's jaw。 The flesh of it was divided among my men； and they took care that no waste should be made of it。
It was the 7th of August when we came into Shark's Bay； in which we anchored at three several places； and stayed at the first of them （on the west side of the bay） till the 11th； during which time we searched about； as I said； for fresh water； digging wells； but to no purpose。 However； we cut good store of firewood at this first anchoring…place； and my company were all here very well refreshed with raccoons； turtle； shark； and other fish； and some fowls； so that we were now all much brisker than when we came in hither。 Yet still I was for standing farther into the bay； partly because I had a mind to increase my stock of fresh water； which was begun to be low； and partly for the sake of discovering this part of the coast。 I was invi
