early australian voyages-第20节
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d be sure to keep them from taking our hooks； for they would first have them themselves； biting very greedily。 We caught also a monk…fish； of which I brought home the picture。
On the 25th of August we still coasted along shore； that we might the better see any opening； kept sounding； and had about twenty fathom； clean sand。 The 26th day； being about four leagues off shore； the water began gradually to sholden from twenty to fourteen fathom。 I was edging in a little towards the land； thinking to have anchored； but presently after the water decreased almost at once； till we had but five fathom。 I durst； therefore； adventure no farther； but steered out the same way that we came in； and in a short time had ten fathom （being then about four leagues and a half from the shore）； and even soundings。 I steered away east…north… east； coasting along as the land lies。 This day the sea breezes began to be very moderate again； and we made the best of our way along shore； only in the night edging off a little for fear of shoals。 Ever since we left Shark's Bay we had fair clear weather； and so for a great while still。
The 27th day we had twenty fathom water all night； yet we could not see land till one in the afternoon from our topmast…head。 By three we could just discern land from our quarter…deck； we had then sixteen fathom。 The wind was at north； and we steered east…by… north； which is but one point in on the land； yet we decreased our water very fast； for at four we had but nine fathom； the next cast but seven； which frightened us； and we then tacked instantly and steed off； but in a short time the wind coming at north…west and west…north…west； we tacked again and steered north…north…east； and then deepened our water again； and had all night from fifteen to twenty fathom。
The 28th day we had between twenty and forty fathom。 We saw no land this day； but saw a great many snakes and some whales。 We saw also some boobies and noddy…birds； and in the night caught one of these last。 It was of another shape and colour than any I had seen before。 It had a small long bill； as all of them have； flat feet like ducks' feet； its tail forked like a swallow； but longer and broader； and the fork deeper than that of the swallow； with very long wings； the top or crown of the head of this noddy was coal… black； having also small black streaks round about and close to the eyes； and round these streaks on each side； a pretty broad white circle。 The breast； belly； and under part of the wings of this noddy were white； and the back and upper part of its wings of a faint black or smoke colour。 Noddies are seen in most places between the tropics； as well in the East Indies and on the coast of Brazil； as in the West Indies。 They rest ashore at night； and therefore we never see them far at sea； not above twenty or thirty leagues； unless driven off in a storm。 When they come about a ship they commonly perch in the night； and will sit still till they are taken by the seamen。 They build on cliffs against the sea； or rocks。
The 30th day； being in latitude 18 degrees 21 minutes； we made the land again； and saw many great smokes near the shore； and having fair weather and moderate breezes； I steered in towards it。 At four in the afternoon I anchored in eight fathom water； clear sand； about three leagues and a half from the shore。 I presently sent my boat to sound nearer in； and they found ten fathom about a mile farther in； and from thence still farther in the water decreased gradually to nine； eight； seven； and at two miles distance to six fathom。 This evening we saw an eclipse of the moon； but it was abating before the moon appeared to us； for the horizon was very hazy； so that we could not see the moon till she had been half an hour above the horizon； and at two hours twenty…two minutes after sunset； by the reckoning of our glasses； the eclipse was quite gone； which was not of many digits。 The moon's centre was then 33 degrees 40 minutes high。
The 31st of August； betimes in the morning； I went ashore with ten or eleven men to search for water。 We went armed with muskets and cutlasses for our defence； expecting to see people there； and carried also shovels and pickaxes to dig wells。 When we came near the shore we saw three tall； black； naked men on the sandy bay ahead of us； but as we rowed in； they went away。 When we were landed； I sent the boat with two men in her to lie a little from the shore at an anchor； to prevent being seized； while the rest of us went after the three black men； who were now got on the top of a small hill about a quarter of a mile from us； with eight or nine men more in their company。 They； seeing us coming； ran away。 When we came on the top of the hill where they first stood； we saw a plain savannah； about half a mile from us； farther in from the sea。 There were several things like hay…cocks standing in the savannah； which at a distance we thought were houses； looking just like the Hottentots' houses at the Cape of Good Hope： but we found them to be so many rocks。 We searched about these for water； but could find none； nor any houses； nor people； for they were all gone。 Then we turned again to the place where we landed； and there we dug for water。
While we were at work there came nine or ten of the natives to a small hill a little way from us； and stood there menacing and threatening us； and making a great noise。 At last one of them came towards us； and the rest followed at a distance。 I went out to meet him； and came within fifty yards of him； making to him all the signs of peace and friendship I could； but then he ran away； neither would they any of them stay for us to come nigh them； for we tried two or three times。 At last I took two men with me； and went in the afternoon along by the sea…side； purposely to catch one of them； if I could； of whom I might learn where they got their fresh water。 There were ten or twelve of the natives a little way off； who； seeing us three going away from the rest of our men； followed us at a distance。 I thought they would follow us； but there being for awhile a sand…bank between us and them； that they could not then see us； we made a halt； and hid ourselves in a bending of the sand…bank。 They knew we must be thereabouts； and being three or four times our numbers； thought to seize us。 So they dispersed themselves； some going to the sea…shore； and others beating about the sand…hills。 We knew by what rencounter we had had with them in the morning that we could easily out…run them； so a nimble young man that was with me； seeing some of them near； ran towards them； and they for some time ran away before him； but he soon overtaking them； they faced about and fought him。 He had a cutlass and they had wooden lances； with which； being many of them； they were too hard for him。 When he first ran towards them I chased two more that were by the shore； but fearing how it might be with my young man； I turned back quickly and went to the top of a sand…hill； whence I saw him near me； closely engaged with them。 Upon their seeing me； one of them threw a lance at me； that narrowly missed me。 I discharged my gun to scare them； but avoided shooting any of them； till finding the young man in great danger from them； and myself in some； and that though the gun had a little frightened them at first； yet they had soon learnt to despise it； tossing up their hands and crying； 〃pooh； pooh； pooh；〃 and coming on afresh with a great noise； I thought it high time to charge again； and shoot one of them； which I did。 The rest； seeing him fall； made a stand again； and my young man took the opportunity to disengage himself and come off to me； my other man also was with me； who had done nothing all this while； having come out unarmed； and I returned back with my men； designing to attempt the natives no farther； being very sorry for what had happened already。 They took up their wounded companion； and my young man； who had been struck through the cheek by one of their lances； was afraid it had been poisoned； but I did not think that likely。 His wound was very painful to him； being made with a blunt weapon； but he soon recovered of it。
Among the New Hollanders； whom we were thus engaged with； there was one who by his appearance and carriage； as well in the morning as this afternoon； seemed to be the chief of them； and a kind of prince or captain among them。 He was a young brisk man； not very tall； nor so personable as some of the rest； though more active and courageous： he was painted （which none of the rest were at all） with a circle of white paste or pigment （a sort of lime； as we thought） about his eyes； and a white streak down his nose； from his forehead to the tip of it： and his breast and some part of his arms were also made white with the same paint； not for beauty or ornament； one would think； but as some wild Indian warriors are said to do； he seemed thereby to design the looking more terrible； this his painting adding very much to his natural deformity； for they all of them have the most unpleasant looks and the worst features of any people that ever I saw； though I have seen great variety of savages。 These New Hollanders were probably the same sort of people as those I met with on this c
