ape York. Cook is however, decisive, for under date 6th May he says:
"The great quantity of plants Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander found in this
place occasioned my giving it the name of Botany Bay."

On coming to an anchor, Cook, Banks, and Tupia went on shore, and Canon
Bennett, a second cousin of Mrs. Cook's, and one who knew her personally,
relates that the family legend was that on reaching the shore Cook
ordered the midshipman to "Jump out, Isaac," and Isaac Smith (afterwards
Admiral) also a cousin of Mrs. Cook's, was the first Englishman to set
his foot on the soil of New South Wales. The few natives who were near
ran away, excepting two, who came forward to oppose any landing. A musket
was fired over them, and they retired to where they had left their
spears, and then one threw a stone at the boat, and as they were too far
away for any serious damage to be done, Cook fired a charge of small shot
at him. He then ran off to a small hut near, picked up a wooden shield,
and returned to take up his position alongside his comrade, and they
threw a couple of spears, receiving a second discharge of small shot in
return, which caused them to retire slowly. As Banks, suspicious of some
gummy substance on the points of the spears, suggested poison, they were
not followed up. The huts, found near the landing-place, were constructed
of sticks covered with pieces of bark somewhat similar to those seen in
Tierra del Fuego. Some children found carefully covered up were left
undisturbed, but forty or fifty spears were taken, and payment in the
shape of beads, cloth, nails, etc., was left, but still untouched, on
visiting the camp the next morning. The canoes from which the natives
were seen fishing are described by Cook as the worst he ever saw, being
merely sheets of bark tied with withies at the end and kept open in the
middle by a stick.

Considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining water, and whilst
the crew were procuring it, Cook made a survey of the harbour. He
describes the country as lightly timbered, with a sandy soil growing a
plentiful crop of coarse grass, of which a quantity was cut for the
sheep. The soil was interspersed with rocks and swamps, but at the head
of the bay appeared richer. A few natives were seen, who ran away when
observed, and though one or two spears were thrown no damage was done to
any one. Large heaps of oyster, mussel, and cockle shells were found,
amongst them, says Cook, "being some of t