68 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



affords from the sea, cannot possibly be conceived ; for as 

 far inland as the eye can reach, nothing appears but the 

 summits of rocks, which stand so near together that, 

 instead of valleys, there are only fissures between them." 



By the 27th they had sailed round the whole country, and 

 determined to depart from the coast as soon as they had 

 taken in a stock of water. For this purpose Captain Cook 

 went ashore in the longboat, and found an excellent 

 watering-place, and a proper berth for the ship. A council 

 of the officers was now held, as to the passage they should 

 take to England, when it was resolved to return by the 

 East Indies ; and, with that view, to steer for the east 

 coast of New Holland, and then follow the direction of 

 that coast to the northward. 



This resolution being made, they sailed at daybreak, on 

 March 31st, 1770, and taking their departure from an 

 eastern point, which they had seen on the 23rd, they called 

 it Cape Farewell. 



Abel Jansen Tasman, a Dutchman, was the first European 

 that made a discovery of New Zealand, to which he gave 

 the name of Staaten Land ; that is, the land of the States 

 General. Tasman never went on shore, as the Indians 

 attacked him soon after he came to an anchor, in the bay 

 to which he gave the name of Murderers' Bay; this was in 

 December, 1642. 



The situation of these islands, as observed by Captain 

 Cook, is between 34 and 48 of south latitude, and 181 and 

 194 of west longitude. The natives call the northern island 

 Eaheinomauwe, and the southernmost Tovy Poenammoo. 



Eaheinomauwe, though hilly, and in some places moun- 

 tainous, is well stored with wood, and there is a rivulet in 

 every valley. The soil of the valleys is light, but is so fertile, 

 as to be well adapted for the plentiful production of all sorts 

 of the fruits, plants, and corn of Europe. 



Dogs and rats are the only quadrupeds that were seen, 

 and of the latter only a few. The inhabitants breed the 

 dogs for the sole purpose of eating them. The birds are 

 hawks, owls, quails ; and there are song-birds, whose note 

 is wonderfully melodious. 



Tovy Poenammoo appears to be a barren country, very 

 mountainous, and almost destitute of inhabitants. 



The sea which washes these islands abounds with fish, 

 which are equally delicate and wholesome food. They 

 seldom came to anchor but caught enough, with hook and 

 line only, to supply the whole ship's company. 



This country abounds with forests, filled with large, 

 straight, and clean timber. Upwards of four hundred 

 species of plants were found, almost all of which are un- 



