oct. 1769 HAWKE’S BAY 189 
a reddish-coloured stone or clay, the lower white. Beyond 
this the country appeared pleasant, with low smooth hills 
like downs. The captain thought it not necessary to 
proceed any farther on this side of the coast, so the ship’s 
head was turned to the northward, and the cape thence 
called Cape Turnagain. At night we were off Hawke’s Bay 
and saw two monstrous fires inland on the hills. We are 
now inclined to think that these, and most if not all the 
great fires that we have seen, are made for the convenience 
of clearing the land for tillage, but for whatever purpose 
they are a certain indication that where they are the country 
is inhabited. 
20th. Several canoes followed us, and seemed very 
peaceably inclined, inviting us to go into a bay they pointed 
out, where they said was plenty of fresh water. We followed 
them in, and by eleven came to an anchor. We then 
invited two, who seemed by their dress to be chiefs, to come 
on board; they immediately accepted our invitation. In the 
meantime those who remained in the canoes traded with our 
people very fairly for whatever they had in their boats. The 
chiefs, who were two old men, the one dressed in a jacket 
ornamented after their fashion with dog skin, the other in 
one covered almost entirely with some tufts of red feathers, 
received our presents, and stayed with us till we had dined. 
21st. At daybreak the waterers went ashore, and soon 
after Dr. Solander and myself did the same. There was a 
good deal of surf upon the beach, but we landed without 
much difficulty. The natives sat by our people, but did not 
intermix with them. They traded, however, for cloth chiefly, 
giving whatever they had, though they seemed pleased with 
observing our people, as well as with the gain they got by 
trading with them; yet they did not neglect their ordinary 
occupations. In the morning several of their boats went 
out fishing, and at dinner-time all went to their respective 
homes, returning after a certain time. Such fair appearances 
made Dr. Solander and myself almost trust them; we ranged 
all about the bay and were well repaid by finding many 
plants, and shooting some most beautiful birds, In doing 
