of a decaying fish if taken into a dark room.

Not long after this, they saw flying-fish. Cook says that when seen
from the cabin windows they were beautiful beyond imagination, their
sides having the colour and brightness of burnished silver. When seen
from the deck they did not look so beautiful, because their backs were
of a dark colour. It must not be supposed that these fish could fly
about in the air like birds. They can only fly a few yards at a time.
They usually rise suddenly from the waves, fly as if in a great hurry,
not more than a yard or two above the surface, and then drop as suddenly
back into the sea as they rose out of it. The two fins near the
shoulders of the fish are very long, so that they can be used as wings
for these short flights. When chased by their enemy, the dolphin,
flying-fish usually take a flight in order to escape. They do not,
however, appear to be able to use their eyes when out of the water, for
they have been seen to fly against ships at sea, get entangled in the
rigging, and fall helpless on the deck. They are not quite so large as
a herring, and are considered very good eating.

On drawing near to Cape Horn, on the extreme south of South America, the
voyagers began to prepare for bad weather, for this Cape is notorious
for its storms. Few mariners approach the Horn without some
preparation, for many a good ship has gone to the bottom in the gales
that blow there.

It was here that they first fell in with savages. The ship having
approached close to that part of the land named Tierra del Fuego,
natives were observed on shore. As Mr Banks and Dr Solander were
anxious to visit them, a boat was lowered and sent ashore. They landed
near a bay in the lee of some rocks where the water was smooth. Thirty
or forty of the Indians soon made their appearance at the end of a sandy
beach on the other side of the bay, but seeing that there were twelve
Europeans in the boat they were afraid, and retreated. Mr Banks and
Dr Solander then advanced about one hundred yards, on which two of the
Indians returned, and, having advanced some paces, sat down. As soon as
the gentlemen came up the savages rose and each threw away a small stick
which he had carried in his hand. This was intended for a sign of
peace. They then walked briskly towards their companions, who had
halted about fifty yards behind them, and beckoned the gentlemen to
follow, which they did. They were received with m