From the fury with which the grass would burn in this hot climate, and the difficulty of extinguishing the fire, our voyagers determined never to expose themselves to the like danger, but to clear the ground around them, if ever again they should be under the necessity of pitching their tents in such a situation.
In the evening of this day, when every thing was gotten on board the ship, and she was nearly ready for sailing, the master returned with the disagreeable account that there was no passage for her to the northward.

The next morning, the lieutenant himself sounded and buoyed the bar.

At this time, all the hills for many miles round were on fire, and the appearance they assumed at night was eminently striking and splendid.
In an excursion which was made by Mr.Banks, on the 23rd, to gather plants, he found the greatest part of the cloth that had been given to the Indians lying in a heap together.

This, as well as the trinkets which had been bestowed upon them, they probably regarded as useless lumber.

Indeed, they seemed to set little value on any thing possessed by our people, excepting their turtle, and that was a commodity which could not be spared.
As Lieutenant Cook was prevented by blowing weather from attempting to get out to sea, Mr.Banks and Dr.Solander seized another opportunity, on the 24th, of pursuing their botanical researches.