1769. ROUND THE WORLD. 295 



this land a peninsula, leaving only a low narrow neck 

 between that and the main. Of this peninsula, which 

 the natives call Terakaco, Cape Table is the north 

 point, and Portland the south. 



While we lay at anchor, two more canoes came off 

 to us, one armed, and the other a small fishing boat, 

 with only four men in her ; they came so near that 

 they entered into conversation with Tupia ; they an- 

 swered all the questions that he asked them with great 

 civility, but could not be persuaded to come on board ; 

 they came near enough, however, to receive several 

 presents that were thrown to them from the ship, 

 with which they seemed much pleased, and went 

 away. During the night many fires were kept upon 

 shore, probably to show us that the inhabitants were 

 too much upon their guard to be surprised. 



About five o'clock in the morning of the 13th, a 

 breeze springing up northerly, we weighed, and 

 steered in for the land. The shore here forms a large 

 bay, of which Portland is the north-east point, and 

 the bay, that runs behind Cape Table, an arm. This 

 arm I had a great inclination to examine, because 

 there appeared to be safe anchorage in it, but not be- 

 ing sure of that, and the wind being right an end, I 

 was unwilling to spare the time. Four-and-twenty 

 fathom was the greatest depth within Portland, but 

 the ground was every where clear. The land near 

 the shore is of a moderate height, with white cliffs 

 and sandy beaches ; within, it rises into mountains, 

 and upon the whole the surface is hilly, for the most 

 part covered with wood, and to appearance pleasant 

 and fertile. In the morning nine canoes came after 

 the ship, but whether with peaceable or hostile in- 

 tentions we could not tell, for we soon left them be- 

 hind us. 



In the evening we stood in for a place that had the 

 appearance of an opening, but found no harbour ; 

 we therefore stood out again, and were soon followed 

 by a large canoe, with eighteen or twenty men, all 



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