Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Voyage
A VOYAGE
UNDERTAKEN BY SOME GENTLEMEN 0 F BOMBAY . ON the 29 th of June , 1795 , discovered an island from oh board the ship Hormazier , Shaw , of Calcutta , then in company with the Chesterfield , in latitude . 9 ° 28 'S . and 14 6 57 'E . longitude , by good ' observation . This new discovered land was called Tate ' s
Island , in honour of Mr . Tate of Bombay . On the 1 st ot July the ships anchored in nine fathom water , twelve miles to the eastward of Tate ' s Island ; when they sent a boat from each ship , to sound two reefs of rocks , extending to the northward , from the south point of the island ; to the southward , from the north point . The natives made si to the seamen to come ashore : but the day being then
gns far advanced , and not having a sufficient quantity of arms and ammunition , in case they were attacked , they thought it most prudent to make the best of their way back to the ships . When the natives saw they were about to-return , many of them leapt into the water , and swam after the boats ; while others of them launched two or three canoes , and soon came up Avith them ;—they
bartered botvs , arrows , and spears , for small penknives , beads , & c . — Some of the natives went afterwards on board the ships , and traded there in the same articles . They are a stout , well made people , -woolly headed , and in stature resemble the description given of the New Guineas , as Avell as in complexion : —they appeared to be a humane and hospitable peoplefrom their behaviourwhile on board .
, , After they had left the Hormazier , it was perceived that they had stolen a hatchet , and several small articles . On the 2 d of July they manned one boat from the two ships , and sent her on shore , to see if there was any water to be had ; , and also , for a party to go up to the highest point of land , to see how far the reefs extendedand if there Avere any islands to the westward ; as the
, ships AA'ere then looking out for Forest ' s Streights . Mr . ShaAV , chief Officer of the Chesterfield , yvas appointed on this duty;—Captain Hill , of the New South Wales Corps , Mr . Carter , purser of the Hormazier , and Mr . Haskett , passenger , accompanied him , in order to make some obsen ations on the soil , produce , and . inhabitants of this new discovered island . The natives received
them very kindly , and conducted the boat to a convenient place for - landing ; after they had gone ashore , and distributed some presents ' among the natives , which they appeared to be very much pleased Xvith , it-was proposed that Messrs . Shaw , Carter , and-Haskett should proceed to the top . of a high point of land , and that Captain Hill should stay by the boat with the four seamen . They accordingly armed themselves Avith a musket each , and a sufficient quantity of
powder and ball , to begin their journey properly accoutered . There were by this time great numbers of the natives , men , women , arid children , assembled round them ;—the men and children quite naked , and the tvomen with no other covering than a leaf over such parts as nature had taught thern to conceal . The gentlemen now made signs to go up the hiil , for some water ; they were conducted near a mile up , and some cocoa-nuts were given
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Voyage
A VOYAGE
UNDERTAKEN BY SOME GENTLEMEN 0 F BOMBAY . ON the 29 th of June , 1795 , discovered an island from oh board the ship Hormazier , Shaw , of Calcutta , then in company with the Chesterfield , in latitude . 9 ° 28 'S . and 14 6 57 'E . longitude , by good ' observation . This new discovered land was called Tate ' s
Island , in honour of Mr . Tate of Bombay . On the 1 st ot July the ships anchored in nine fathom water , twelve miles to the eastward of Tate ' s Island ; when they sent a boat from each ship , to sound two reefs of rocks , extending to the northward , from the south point of the island ; to the southward , from the north point . The natives made si to the seamen to come ashore : but the day being then
gns far advanced , and not having a sufficient quantity of arms and ammunition , in case they were attacked , they thought it most prudent to make the best of their way back to the ships . When the natives saw they were about to-return , many of them leapt into the water , and swam after the boats ; while others of them launched two or three canoes , and soon came up Avith them ;—they
bartered botvs , arrows , and spears , for small penknives , beads , & c . — Some of the natives went afterwards on board the ships , and traded there in the same articles . They are a stout , well made people , -woolly headed , and in stature resemble the description given of the New Guineas , as Avell as in complexion : —they appeared to be a humane and hospitable peoplefrom their behaviourwhile on board .
, , After they had left the Hormazier , it was perceived that they had stolen a hatchet , and several small articles . On the 2 d of July they manned one boat from the two ships , and sent her on shore , to see if there was any water to be had ; , and also , for a party to go up to the highest point of land , to see how far the reefs extendedand if there Avere any islands to the westward ; as the
, ships AA'ere then looking out for Forest ' s Streights . Mr . ShaAV , chief Officer of the Chesterfield , yvas appointed on this duty;—Captain Hill , of the New South Wales Corps , Mr . Carter , purser of the Hormazier , and Mr . Haskett , passenger , accompanied him , in order to make some obsen ations on the soil , produce , and . inhabitants of this new discovered island . The natives received
them very kindly , and conducted the boat to a convenient place for - landing ; after they had gone ashore , and distributed some presents ' among the natives , which they appeared to be very much pleased Xvith , it-was proposed that Messrs . Shaw , Carter , and-Haskett should proceed to the top . of a high point of land , and that Captain Hill should stay by the boat with the four seamen . They accordingly armed themselves Avith a musket each , and a sufficient quantity of
powder and ball , to begin their journey properly accoutered . There were by this time great numbers of the natives , men , women , arid children , assembled round them ;—the men and children quite naked , and the tvomen with no other covering than a leaf over such parts as nature had taught thern to conceal . The gentlemen now made signs to go up the hiil , for some water ; they were conducted near a mile up , and some cocoa-nuts were given