102 Transactions, — Miscellaneous. 



were mostly on shore, not at all annoyed by the Maoris, who (as he says) 

 " behaved very civilly, showing us everything that we expressed a deske to 

 see;" and enjoying themselves greatly in rambling about, going into the 

 woods, seeing what was to be seen, and in making extensive botanical and 

 other collections, having also with him on shore nearly the whole strength 

 of his ship, including the chief officers, the scientific gentlemen, and the 

 marines. He says (after leaving Tegadoo, or Anaura bay): — "In the 

 afternoon of the 23rd, as soon as the ship was moored, I went on shore to 

 examine the watering-place, accompanied by Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander ; 

 the boat landed in the cove without the least surf ; the water was excellent 

 and conveniently situated; there was iDlenty of wood close to high- water 

 mark ; and the disposition of the people was in every respect such as we 

 could wish. * * * On the 24th, early in the morning, I sent Lieutenant 

 Gore on shore to superintend the cutting of wood and filling of water, with a 

 sufficient number of men for both purposes, and all the marines as a guard. 

 After breakfast I went on shore myself, and continued there the whole day. 

 Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander also went on shore to gather plants, and m 

 their walks saw several thmgs worthy of notice," etc., etc. 



And here I would remark (1), that we know, from Cook's own words, the 

 high expectations all on board of his ship had on their first seeing this new 

 land ; which, no doubt, was greatly increased during then* slow approach of 

 from two to three days to their first anchorage : Cook says, " The land became 

 the subject of much eager conversation ; but the general opinion seemed to be 

 that we had found the Terra australis incognita.'" (2). That at this time 

 (as a matter of course) Captain Cook did not know how far the land he had 

 discovered extended to the north, neither was he sure (after the experience 

 he had had of its natives and of its coast) that he should ever land again ; 

 or, if he should, that he could possibly have a better opportunity than 

 he had here, during his ten days' stay at Anaura and Tolago Bays. Here 

 then, if he had not already done so, would have been the place and the 

 fitting opportunity for him to have taken possession of his newly-discovered 

 country. 



Leaving Tolago Bay on the 30th October, Captain Cook coasted north until 

 the 4th November, when he anchored at Mercury Bay. Here he remained from 

 ten to eleven days, spending, with his party, much of their time on shore very 

 ao-reeably. On their leaving the bay, on the 15th, they acted in the manner 

 abeady quoted and described. So that, if this was really the^first time of his 

 taking formalpossession of the coimtry, he had been no less than thirty-eight 

 days in the New Zealand waters, of which about twenty-four days were spent 

 on land in various places on the east coast ; and yet, though nothing hindered, 

 and delay in such matters (as we have seen) was not in keeping with Cook's 



