BOTANICAL DISCOVERY. xii 
and shooting some most beautiful birds.” Further on, he gives a 
description of the Maori cultivations, in which were planted “ sweet 
potatos, cocos, and a plant of the cucumber kind,” doubtless refer- 
ring to the kumara, taro, and hue. Dr. Solander, in his manuscript 
volume of descriptions, presently to be referred to, enumerates ninety- 
eight species of plants as having been collected at “ Tigadu.”” Among 
these were the first specimens of the beautiful Clianthus puniceus, 
which was found cultivated by the Natives near their dwellings. 
On taking his departure from Anaura, Cook at first stood to the 
northwards, but the wind being unfavourable, he determined to put 
into Tolaga Bay, where the Natives had informed him wood and 
water could easily be obtained for his ship. On the morning of the 
23rd he accordingly anchored about a mile from a small cove just 
inside the southern point of the bay. Here a stay was made until 
the 30th October. The Natives were friendly and obliging, and an 
ample supply of wood and water was obtained. Both Banks and 
Solander passed most of their time on shore, and an excellent collec- 
tion of plants was formed. With respect to the vegetation, Cook 
remarks, “ The Tops and ridges of the Hills are for the most part barren, 
at least little grows on them but fern; but the Valleys and sides of 
many of the Hills were luxuriously clothed with woods and Verdure 
and little Plantations of the Natives lying dispers’d up and down the 
Country. We found in the Woods, Trees of above 20 different sorts ; 
Specimens of each I took on board, as all of them were unknown to 
any of us. The Tree which we cut for firimg was something like 
Maple and yielded a whitish Gum. There was another sort of a deep 
Yellow which we imagin’d might prove useful in dying. We likewise 
found one Cabage Tree which we cut down for the sake of the cabage. 
The Country abounds with a great Number of Plants, and the woods 
with as great a variety of beautiful birds, many of them unknown to 
us.” Altogether, Tolaga Bay appears to have left a favourable im- 
pression on the “ Endeavour’s” people. From the localities cited in 
Solander’s manuscripts, it appears that about 160 species of plants 
were collected. 
Leaving Tolaga Bay on the 30th October, Cook made sail to the 
northwards. On the followmg day he rounded the East Cape, and 
passing Cape Runaway and White Island (which was evidently quies- 
cent at that time), he coasted along the shores of the Bay of Plenty, 
having occasional intercourse with those Maoris who came off to him 
in their canoes, but making no attempt to land. On the 3rd November 
he was abreast of Tauranga, and on the 4th reached the entrance of 
Mercury Bay. Finding in this locality a secure harbour with plenty 
of wood and water, and being anxious to observe the transit of Mercury, 
which was to take place on the 9th, Cook brought his vessel to an 
anchor. During a stay of eleven days many-plants were collected, 
figured, and described, the total number, reckoning from Solander’s 
