any uncouth signs of
friendship, and, in return, gave the savages some beads and ribbons,
which greatly delighted them.

A feeling of good-will having been thus established, the two parties
joined and tried to hold converse by means of signs. Three of the
Indians agreed to accompany them back to the ship, and when they got on
board one of the wild visitors began to go through some extraordinary
antics. When he was taken to any new part of the ship, or when he was
shown any new thing, he shouted with all his force for some minutes,
without directing his voice either to the people of the ship or to his
companions.

Some beef and bread being given to them, they ate it, but did not seem
to relish it much. Nevertheless, such of it as they did not eat they
took away with them. But they would not swallow a drop either of wine
or spirits. They put the glass to their lips, but, having tasted the
liquor, they returned it with looks of disgust.

Cook says he was much surprised at the want of curiosity in these
savages of the Cape, and seems to have formed a very low opinion of
them. They were conducted all over the ship, yet, although they saw a
vast number of beautiful and curious things that must have been quite
new to them, they did not give vent to any expression of wonder or
pleasure--for the howling above spoken of did not seem to be either,--
and when they returned to land they did not seem anxious to tell what
they had seen, neither did their comrades appear desirous of hearing
anything about their visit to the ship. Altogether, they seemed a much
lower race of people than the inhabitants of the South-Sea Islands whom
Cook afterwards visited.

CHAPTER THREE.

DESCRIBES AN ADVENTURE IN THE MOUNTAINS, AND TELLS OF TIERRA DEL FUEGO.

One of the main objects that Mr Banks and Dr Solander had in view in
going with Captain Cook on this voyage was to collect specimens of
plants and insects in the new countries they were about to visit. The
country near Cape Horn was at that time almost unknown: indeed, it is
not much known even at the present day. The two naturalists of the
expedition were therefore anxious to land and explore the shore.

Accordingly, early one fine morning a party went ashore to ascend one of
the mountains. It consisted of Mr Banks and Dr Solander with their
servants, two of whom were negroes; Mr Buchan, the draughtsman; Mr
Monkhouse, the surgeon of the ship; and Mr Green, the astronomer.