132 Transactions. 



I had sent back the boat, thinking I could easily proceed by 

 land to a point opposite the corvette in following the coast ; but 

 when we came to return we found only too well why the Natives 

 so seldom visit these rough shores. The sea, in rising, had 

 nearly covered the narrow and rocky space which was dry in 

 the morning ; so we had to cross, with great trouble, the ravines 

 and steep hills, covered with scrub, which alternately succeeded 

 one another. Halfway we crossed an advanced point by passing 

 under a natural vault more than 100 paces long, which passes 

 right through the point ; but the slopes beyond caused us fresh 

 difficulties, for we had to climb a nearly perpendicular face ; 

 we crawled, holding by feeble shrubs or fragile stalks of fern, 

 and ran each moment the risk of being precipitated on to the 

 sharp points of the rocks below if these frail supports had given 

 way. Lastly, after excessive fatigue and veritable dangers, 

 we arrived at the beach of the observatory, where we found a 

 boat, which carried us on board the corvette. 



21st January. — Soon after midnight the rain commenced to 

 f ill in torrents, and continued up to 2 a.m. At the anchorage 

 we had only slight breezes from the S.E., and more often calm ; 

 but the sea had risen, and even in our bay, so well sheltered, 

 we had some swell and surf on the shore. I concluded that a 

 gale prevailed at that moment in the straits, and I esteemed 

 myself happy to have escaped it. This decided me to postpone 

 our departure to the morrow, the more so as M. Lottin had 

 still an observation to make to complete the comparison of oui 

 watches. 



No doubt our stay here will seem short ; it appeared so to 

 myself. If I had only to consult the wishes of the naturalists, 

 whose collections were enriched each day by most interesting 

 material — if I could have listened to my own desires. I would 

 have traversed those plains at the head of the bay [Waimea 

 Plains], to which my thoughts returned involuntarily, and 

 visited the Natives in their own village ; but I could not forget 

 my instructions. The hydrographic work was finished, our 

 water, our wood had been completed, and other parts of New 

 Zealand equally claimed our attention. A longer stay could 

 not be justified, and would have nullified our future operations. 



At ".! p.m., the sky having somewhat cleared. I went, with 

 several officers, to take a last walk on the larger beach; but. 

 the rain having driven the birds to their retreats, we were only 

 able to secure a few; and also, the underserub, still charged 

 with the rain it had received, completely wetted those who 

 wished to penetrate into the woods. Hence we returned early 

 ou board to make our preparations for departure. 



The Natives had continued to visit us from time to time, 

 and their conduct had always been without reproach. Their 



