Transcript

From Bank’s journal, April 29 1770 as the Endeavour entered Kamay Botany Bay;

“A small smoke arising from a very barren place directed our glasses that way and we soon saw about ten people, who on our approach left the fire and retired to a little eminence where they could conveniently see the ship. Soon after this two canoes carrying two men each landed on the beach under them. The men hauled up their boats and went to their fellows upon the hill”

Over the following days up to seventeen canoes at a time were sighted by the crew of the Endeavour as the Gweagal people continued fishing and moving around the bay.

Banks noticed fish being cooked on little fires within the canoes

The canoes, or Nawis, were made of one huge piece of stringybark, and bound totally with materials from the bush. The canoes were essential for catching freshwater and ocean fish, as well as travelling up the river along the coast and across the bay.

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