OCT. 1769 OFF NEW ZEALAND 183 



*lth. This morning the land was plainly seen from the 

 deck ; it appears to be very large. About eleven a large 

 smoke was seen, and soon after several more sure signs of 

 inhabitants. I shot Nectris munda and Procellaria velox, 

 and took with the dipping-net Dagysa gemma, and a good 

 deal of Fucus sertularia, etc., the examination of which is 

 postponed till we shall have more time than we are likely 

 to have at present. 



8th. This morning we are very near the land, which 

 forms many white cliffs like chalk. The hills are in general 

 clothed with trees ; in the valleys some appear to be very 

 large. The whole appearance is not so fruitful as we could 

 wish. We stood in for a large bay in hopes of finding a 

 harbour, and before we were well within the heads we saw 

 several canoes standing across the bay, which after a little 

 time returned to the place they came from without appear- 

 ing to take the least notice of us. Some houses were also 

 seen, which appeared low but neat ; near one of them there 

 were a good many people collected, who sat down upon the 

 beach, seemingly observing us. On a small peninsular at 

 the north-east head we could plainly see a regular paling, 

 pretty high, inclosing the top of a hill, for what purpose many 

 conjectures were made ; most are of opinion, or say at least, 

 that it must be either a park of deer or a field of 

 oxen and sheep. By four o'clock we came to an anchor 

 nearly two miles from the shore. The bay appears to be 

 quite open, without the least shelter ; the two sides of it 

 make in high white cliffs ; the middle is lowland, with hills 

 gradually rising behind one another to a chain of high 

 mountains inland. Here we saw many great smokes, some 

 near the beach, others between the hills, some very far 

 within land, which we looked upon as great indications of a 

 populous country. 



In the evening I went ashore with the marines. We 

 marched from the boats in hopes of finding water, etc., and 

 saw a few of the natives, who ran away immediately on 

 seeing us. While we were absent four of them attacked 

 our small boat, in which were only four boys. They got off 



