442 Transactions. 



Guilbert, whom I saw at some distance going on board, and 

 asked him to hasten to the pass, and profit by the calm to 

 make some soundings. But already the current commenced 

 to turn into our basin, and it became impossible for him to 

 approach the pass, in spite of all his and his crew's efforts. 



From there I went to a beach on the isle, not far from the 

 pass, where I remained an hour walking over it and collecting 

 plants. Again I was struck with the resemblance that exists 

 in general terms between the vegetation of this part of the 

 world and that of Polynesia. On the other hand, one discovers 

 that New Zealand possesses plenty of Australian species, not- 

 withstanding the differences that at first present themselves 

 between the floras of the two countries. That double observa- 

 tion conducts naturally to the thought that New Zealand, in 

 spite of its high latitude, presents a system of vegetation inter- 

 mediate between that of Polynesia and that of New Holland — 

 a sort of transition from one to the other. 



That spot offered me many bunches of Phormium, and, 

 although its favourite station is on the banks of streams, I 

 have seen it grow with vigour on the almost bare maritime 

 rocks [pi. xliii]. Near the shore a pretty cascade rolls its waters 

 over the rocks and debris which have succumbed to the action 

 of the winds, or of centuries of storms, and would furnish easily 

 the wants of a fleet. 



On returning on board about 1 p.m. I sent the long-boat to 

 place a stream- anchor two cable-lengths outside, towards the 

 middle of the channel ; we afterwards hauled up to it. after 

 having heaved up the lesser anchor, with which we proceeded 

 to replace the other, when the wind began to rise from the 

 N.W., with squalls charged with rain, which caused us to drift. 

 Fifty fathoms of chain were paid out, and the corvette held at 

 about a cable-length from the shore. Thus our whole day's 

 work was wasted, and we found ourselves not more advanced 

 than before. During the night the wind increased, and blew 

 very fresh, with, squalls, rain, thunder, and lightning. To 

 spare the small chain, which worked a good deal, and to pre- 

 vent our dragging on to the shore, it became necessary to let 

 go another anchor, with the great chain of which we paid out 

 30 fathoms. 



26th January. — The wind decreased at midnight, and at day- 

 light work was again commenced. The large and the small 

 anchors were both lifted, and then we hauled on t- a stream- 

 anchor placed at three cables' length to windward in 21 fathoms 

 of water. We remained with SI fathoms of the small cable, 

 awaiting a favourable moment to get under way. At 9 a.m. a 

 nice breeze from the W.S.W. arose, and seemed to hold. The 



