420 Transactions. 



During this time the soundings were successively 80, 53, 

 35, and even 30 fathoms, sand and mud. Without doubt, on 

 all that part of the coast vessels might anchor in shelter as 

 long as the winds were easterly. But to do this with certainty 

 it would be necessary to acquire local knowledge of the direction 

 of the winds and the indications which would announce their 

 duration and changes. Until then it would be very imprudent 

 to hazard such an anchorage, for all the experience I have 

 acquired during three months' stay on these tempestuous coasts 

 has taught me never to count on the finest weather and the 

 most favourable wind from appearances. 



Moreover, it is probable that if the human species has found 

 means to penetrate to this inhospitable coast, it is sure to 

 have established itself near Cape Foulwind ; and the telescope 

 allowed us to perceive agreeable and beautiful sites suscep- 

 tible of cultivation. Nevertheless, our close attention failed 

 to discover either house or trace of inhabitants, nor even any 

 fires. [There must, however, have been inhabitants there- 

 abouts at that time, for D'Urville's visit was prior to Niho's 

 raid, in 1828, which drove most of the West Coast, or Poutini 

 Ngai-Tahu, to the mountains and secret fastnesses inland.] 



Beyond the promontory the coast rises suddenly in escarped 

 ridges from the seaside, and offers not the least appearance of 

 low coast (lisiere) practicable to the foot of man. [No doubt, 

 the very low stretch of land bordering the sea north of the 

 Buller, and along which the Ngakawau Railway now runs, 

 would not be visible a few miles at sea in the thick weather 

 D'Urville refers to.] A little before night we passed before a. 

 place where the coast, on the contrary, seemed lower, and 

 covered with fine trees ; but the thick mists which covered that 

 part very shortly after hid the place from our eyes. . . . 

 At night the wind fell, and this was followed by showers. 

 During a sudden and fresh squall at 12.15 the wind shifted to 

 the N.E., shortly after returning to the N.W., where it remain sd, 

 uncertain and irregular. We passed the night in making short 

 tacks. 



13th January. — This morning was again little favourable 

 to our operations ; tin 1 sky was charged in all parts, and with 

 sudden squalls, sufficiently violent, from the W.N.W. and 

 X.W., which succeeded one another without interruption from 

 4 a.m. to 11 a.m., with much rain and a heavy sea. 



Nevertheless, we made all sail to double the Point of Rocks, 

 which is a high steep cape with some rocks at its base near the 

 coast. For some miles to the smith of the cape the coast is 

 very steep, high, and covered with trees, without any appear- 

 ance of a port or inhabitants. At the point itself [Rocks Point. 



