OCT. 1769 OFF NEW ZEALAND 183 
7th. 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 
