FEB. 1770 PASS COOK’S STRAITS 217 
which proved to be a strong tide, and which set her directly 
upon a rock. We had approached very near to this when 
the anchor was dropped, and she was brought up about 
a cable’s length from it. We were now sensible of the 
force of the tide, which roared like a mill-stream, and ran 
at four knots at least when it flowed the fastest, for the 
rate varied much. It ran in this manner till twelve o'clock, 
when, with the slack water, we got up the anchor with 
great difficulty, and a light breeze from the northward soon 
cleared us from our dangers. 
8th. As some of the officers declared last night that they 
thought it probable that the land we have been round might 
communicate by an isthmus situated somewhere between 
where we now are and Cape Turnagain (though the whole 
distance is estimated at no more than ninety miles), the 
captain resolved to stand to the northward till he should 
see that cape, which was accordingly done. 
Three canoes put off from the shore, and with very little 
invitation came on board. The people appeared richer and 
more cleanly than any we have seen since we were in the 
Bay of Islands; their canoes also were ornamented in the 
same manner as those we had formerly seen in the north of 
the island. They were always more civil in their behaviour, 
and on having presents made them, immediately made 
presents to us in return (an instance we have not before met 
with in this island). All these things inclined me to 
believe that we were again come to the dominions of Teratu, 
but on asking they said that he was not their king. 
9th. By eleven o’clock Cape Turnagain was in sight, 
which convinced everybody that the land was really an 
island, on which we once more turned the ship’s head to 
the southward. 
14th. I had two or three opportunities this evening of 
seeing albatrosses rise from the water, which they did with 
great ease; maybe they are not able to do so (as I have 
seen) when they are gorged with food. 
17th. This morning we were close to a new island! which 
1 Banks’ Peninsula: it is not an island. 
