Smith. — Exploration of Tasman Bay. 421 



twenty-eight miles south of West Whanganui, six miles south 

 of Kahurangi Point] is a white streak, which contrasts with 

 the sombre hue of the land, and indicates the presence of a 

 cascade, the waters of which precipitate themselves vertically 

 into those of the ocean. 



We had passed beyond it some miles, when at the " station," 

 at 3.30 p.m., the soundings were 60 fathoms, heavy sand, at a 

 league and a half from the shore. Subsequently, driven by 

 a fine breeze from the west, we sailed rapidly along the coast, 

 of which the aspect became more and more agreeable as we 

 approached th« straits. The mountains retired towards the 

 interior, and the parts near the sea showed up in more easy 

 slopes ; here and there we distinguished beautiful spots, with 

 pretty clumps of wood, but no trace of inhabitants. . . . 



Towards 6 p.m. we believed we could see on the coast a vast 

 basin capable of offering a good anchorage, and I had great 

 hope of being able to enter it next morning to examine that 

 part of New Zealand. In consequence, I approached the coast 

 closely, to reconnoitre the place. We passed at less than two 

 miles ; and at that moment M. Gressian mounted on the cross- 

 trees to obtain a more exact view. He assured me that the 

 basin was very extensive, but, unfortunately, communicated 

 with the sea only by a narrow channel, completely barred by 

 breakers. I was consequently obliged to renounce my hopes 

 of entering. We gave it the name of " Harbour-barred." 

 [This is West Whanganui Harbour, only available occasionally 

 for small craft.] 



At 7 p.m. we were on the parallel of Cape Farewell, and 

 three or four miles off it. The land is of moderate elevation, 

 and falls rapidly to the coast, and here our watches gave us 

 an enormous difference with the position of Cook. . . . 



The weather had decidedly improved ; the night was tran- 

 quil, and we passed it in making short tacks, with a nice 

 westerly wind. 



14th January. — At 3 a.m. I steered in the direction where 

 I presumed Cape Farewell lay ; but at daylight I perceived 

 that the current during the night had carried us far to the 

 E.N.E., and we were already considerably within the straits. 

 I hastened to pick up the coast, and very soon, favoured by 

 charming weather and a nice breeze from the west, our corvette 

 glided lightly over a most tranquil sea at less than a mile from 

 the coast. The soundings were 8, 10, and 12 fathoms. It 

 was easily seen from the tops that the land which we were 

 following was nothing but a narrow tongue, with small round 

 sand-dunes and a few tufts of shrubs here and there [Cape 

 Farewell Spit]. Beyond that (to the south) was a vast basin 



