From a father acquaintance with the natives, it was found, that the colour of their skins was not so dark as had at first been apprehended, and that all of them were remarkably clean-limbed, and extremely active and nimble.

Their language appeared to be more harsh than that of the islanders to the South Sea.
On the 14th, Mr.Gore had the good fortune to kill one of the animals before mentioned, and which had been the subject of much speculation.
It is called by the natives Kanguroo; and when dressed proved most excellent meat.

Indeed, our navigators might now be said to fare sumptuously every day; for they had turtle in great plenty, and it was agreed that these were far superior to any which our people had ever tasted in England.

This the gentlemen justly imputed to their being eaten fresh from the sea, before their natural fat had been wasted, or their juices changed, by the situation and diet they are exposed to when kept in tubs.

Most of the turtle here caught were of the kind called green turtle, and their weight was from two to three hundred pounds.
In the morning of the 16th, while the men were engaged in their usual employment of getting the ship ready for the sea, our commander climbed one of the heights on the north side of the river, and obtained from it an extensive view of the inland country, which he found agreeably diversified by hills, valleys, and large plains, that in many places were richly covered with wood.