364 



STEWART'S ISLAND NEW-ZEALAND. 



[1830. 



nary, 1830. We therefore got under way on the morning of Tuesday, 

 the 5th, at 6 o'clock, and steered for another cluster of islands, or 

 rather rocks, called " The Snares" one hundred and eighty miles north 

 of Auckland's group, and about sixty south of New-Zealand. 



This cluster of craggy rocks is in lat. 48° 4' south, long. 166° 18' 

 east ; extending five miles in the direction of east-north-east and west- 

 south-west. They were first discovered by Vancouver, who gave them 

 a name expressive of their character, as being very likely to draw the 

 unwary mariner into alarming difficulties. We searched them in vain 

 for fur-seal, with which they formerly abounded. The population was 

 extinct, cut off, root and branch, by the sealers of Van Dieman's Land, 

 Sidney, &c. We therefore squared away for the south cape of New- 

 Zealand, with a fine breeze from south-west, and fair weather. 



Jan. 7th. — On the morning of Thursday, the 7th, at 5 A. M., we 

 were close in with the south cape of New-Zealand ; or, more properly, 

 Stewart's Island, which is separated from the main island by a passage 

 about twenty miles wide, called Foyeaux's Strait. This passage is 

 clear of dangers on the south shore, but the north shore presents 

 numerous islands and reefs, with deep and spacious harbours within 

 them, running some distance into the mainland. 



Stewart's Island, which forms the southern extremity of New-Zea- 

 land, is of considerable magnitude, and its most southerly point, called 

 Cape South, is in latitude 47° 1 8' south, long. 167° 14' east. Its 

 southern and western parts have an elevation of more than two thou- , 

 sand feet above the level of the sea; but on its northern and eastern 

 sides, the land descends into deep valleys and fertile plains. The 

 whole surface of the island, except the summits of the most lofty hills, 

 is covered with a rich mellow soil, clothed with heavy forests of ex- 

 cellent ship-timber. 



On the south-east side of the island is a beautiful and spacious 

 harbour, the entrance to which is narrow, and easy of access. After 

 passing within this entrance, it branches off, north and south, in two 

 arms, in each of which is safe anchorage. This is called South Port ; 

 and at the time of our visit, a gang of men from Sidney were here, em- 

 ployed in building a vessel. 



The west part of this island is dangerous for a ship to approach in 

 the night, as there are many reefs running out to the westward, from 

 three to four miles, on which the sea breaks with great violence. The 

 coast to the south and east is bold close to the shore, and entirely free 

 from hidden dangers, half a mile from the land ; but on the north-east 

 point of this island there is a reef running off to the eastward about 

 three miles, upon which the sea seldom breaks with a westerly wind, 

 although there is not more than ten feet of water on its extreme point. 

 From Cape South " The Snares" bear about south 38° west, distant 

 nineteen leagues. 



Jan. Sth. — On Friday, the 8th of January, we left Stewart's Isle, 

 with a fine breeze from south-south-west, and fair weather, and at 10, 

 A. M., were close in with what is called Molyneux's Harbour, on the 

 south-east side of New-Zealand proper; but instead of a "deep and 

 spacious harbour," as reported by its discoverer, we found nothing but 



