Smith. — Exploration of Tasman Bay. 431 



been formed by the streams, seems of a prodigious fertility, 

 and probably the adjacent slope would be susceptible of culture. 

 It is not to be doubted that this place would be convenient for 

 a small establishment. Plantations of a larger size could only 

 be placed on the banks of the Eiver Mai-Tehai (Motueka) and 

 the surrounding plains. 



MM. Quoy and Lottin, who came to Torrents Bay overland 

 by crossing the isthmus which separates that harbour from 

 Astrolabe Bay, joined us about 11 a.m. We visited together 

 the little valley of which I have spoken, and we found some 

 houses where the Natives had left some of their utensils, and 

 near them some potato plantations. No doubt these are places 

 where the inhabitants of Mai-Tehai or Skoi-Tehai establish 

 themselves for a time when occupied in fishing, or to pass the 

 time at the harvesting of their crops of potatoes. We all 

 returned on board at 4.30 p.m. 



MM. Guilbert and Dudemaine finished this morning the 

 detailed plan of Astrolabe Bay, and the numerous soundings 

 on it leave nothing to be desired. 



20th January. — The weather remained cloudy, with feeble 

 breezes. From 5 to 10 a.m. it rained, and then became fine. 

 I had not many days to devote to this anchorage, and did not 

 wish to lose an instant. At 9 a.m. I was ashore with M. Lesson 

 and Simonet on the large beach to the south of the anchorage. 

 This is the most agreeable place, and more rich in birds than 

 any part of the coast. A narrow and sandy flat, covered only 

 with herbaceous plants, occupies the edge of the sea ; it is 

 surrounded by an immense and profound forest of easy access ; 

 a fine stream traverses it, running over a bed of granite ; in 

 many parts of its course it has pretty waterfalls. The fresh 

 and delicious shade echoes with the songs of various birds, and 

 that scene so full of life contrasts with the funereal silence which 

 I had observed on the ridge near, barely two or three miles 

 distant. The nature of these places, the aspect of the streams 

 and forests, perfectly recalled to me many similar sights in New 

 Guinea, near Dorei, and the surprising resemblance of the ferns 

 struck me more and more. The almost complete absence of 

 insects recalled to me the coasts of Tavai-Pounamou [Te Wai- 

 pounamu = South Island, New Zealand] ; indeed, in all my 

 visit I did not remark more than one, coloured red, which I 

 could not catch, but which I took to be a Hymenoptere. I do 

 not count some small and insignificant species of locusts, crickets, 

 and cicadas inhabiting the plants of the shore. Simonet and I 

 made a successful chase after birds, of which we brought back 

 more than forty individuals, of many sorts, amongst others a 

 large pigeon with brilliant reflections, two Glaucopis with 

 pendant drops, and many fine philedon d cravate [? tui]. 



