424 Transactions. 



decreases in height, and leaves a large margin of much lower 

 land, on which we noticed some cabins, a fire, and a group of 

 Natives moving about. At half a league to the south of the 

 village rose a massive group of enormous trees, with long straight 

 stems and foliage of sombre hue [probably kahikatea trees, of 

 which there used to be several in that locality], and which I 

 suspect belong to the genus Podocarpus. Already the valley 

 appeared of very large extent, and M. Dudemaine, on the look- 

 out on the crosstrees, distinguished clearly, at a mile or more 

 from the forest, a narrow channel which penetrated the land 

 [probably the Motueka River]. I would have been delighted 

 to find a safe anchorage for the corvette, but the soundings 

 gave only 7 fathoms. In consequence, I laid to, and sent 

 M. IiOttin to sound in that direction. At less than a mile from 

 the corvette he found only 4| fathoms. I then made signal to 

 him to return on board, and continued to follow the coast to- 

 wards the S.E. in the direction of a perpendicular white cape, 

 of not much elevation. 



I have no doubt that the channel seen from the tops, enter- 

 ing for some distance into the land, was the course of a river of 

 considerable size, fed by the snows of the interior summits. 

 The night approaching, I was desirous of finding a depth of water 

 convenient for anchorage, the more so as the soundings were 

 now from 6 to 7 fathoms, rocky instead of a muddy bottom, 

 which offered to us little safety for the night. In consequence, 

 I put about, and at 7.10 p.m., having 27 it. of water (mud and 

 gravel), I anchored with the starboard anchor with 20 fathoms 

 of cable. Shortly after the wind fell, and the night was fine. 

 The obscurity prevented us from ascertaining the depth of this 

 gulf ; nevertheless, we had come 27 miles since our last station. 

 Tims, that bay, shown on Cook's chart as a slight embayment 

 of a 'few miles of depth and width, seemed to take on a great 

 development. This unexpected discovery caused us the greatest 

 satisfaction, and we congratulated ourselves in being the first 

 to give more exact notions on these coasts until now unknown. 

 [The position of DTrville's anchorage was about three miles 

 N.E. of Moutere Bluff.] 



L6th January. — In looking around the corvette as soon ;is 

 the lighl allowed me to distinguish objects, 1 was surprised to 

 see that we had in reality attained the head of the bay, which 

 terminated to the south in Low-lying lamb, often bare, anil in 

 appearance marshy. The depth was wanting at a considerable 

 distance from th" shore, and no pail announced a sine anchor- 

 a»c for the" Astrolabe." Inconsequence, directly the " station" 

 had been made, the anchor was lifted, and we ran across to 

 the opposite [i.e., east ] coast to within three miles and a half 



