i88 NEW ZEALAND CHAP, vm 



of bone (he said of a whale). He stayed but a short time, 

 and when he went he took with him our three guests, much 

 to our, as well as their, satisfaction. 



In sailing along shore, we could clearly see several 

 cultivated spots of land, some freshly turned up, and lying 

 in furrows, as if ploughed; others with plants growing 

 upon them, some younger and some older. We also saw in 

 two places high rails upon the ridges of hills, but could only 

 guess that they are a part of some superstition, as they were 

 in lines not inclosing anything. 



1 5th. Snow was still to be seen upon the mountains inland. 

 In the morning we were abreast of the southernmost cape of 

 a large bay, the northernmost of which was named Portland 

 Isle. The bay itself was called Hawke's Bay. The southern 

 point was called Cape Kidnappers, on account of an attempt 

 made by the natives to steal Tayeto, Tupia's boy. He was 

 employed in handing up the articles which the natives were 

 selling, when one of the men in a canoe seized him and 

 pushed off. A shot was fired into the canoe, whereupon 

 they loosed the boy, who immediately leaped into the water 

 and swam to the ship. When he had a little recovered from 

 his fright, Tayeto brought a fish to Tupia, and told him that 

 he intended it as an offering to his eatua, in gratitude for 

 his escape. Tupia approved it, and ordered him to throw it 

 in the water, which he did. 



16th. Mountains covered with snow were in sight again 

 this morning, so that a chain of them probably runs within 

 the country. Vast shoals of fish were about the ship, 

 pursued by large flocks of brownish birds a little bigger 

 than a pigeon (Nectris munda). Their method of fishing 

 was amusing enough : a whole flock of birds would follow 

 the fish, which swam fast; they continually plunged under 

 water, and soon after rose again in another place, so that the 

 whole flock sometimes vanished altogether, and rose again, 

 often where you did not expect them ; in less than a 

 minute's time they were down again, and so alternately as 

 long as we saw them. Before dinner we were abreast of 

 another cape, which made in a bluff rock, the upper part of 



