Jan.] 



NEW-ZEALAND. 



365 



a small bend in the land, between two low points about three miles 

 across, and one mile deep. 



We soon had a friendly visit from about fifty natives, who came 

 on board without the least hesitation, and opened an intercourse with us 

 without reserve. We made them some trifling presents, which appeared 

 to give them much pleasure. In return, they gave me a pressing invi- 

 tation to visit their little village, at the foot of a valley near the head 

 of the bay. But before I invite the reader to accompany me on shore, 

 it will be proper to say something about this interesting country of New- 

 Zealand : the next chapter will therefore commence with a few facts 

 collected from the most authentic sources, and confirmed by my own 

 personal observation. 



CHAPTER III. 



New-Zealand — Intercourse with the Natives — Their Habitations, Apparel, Work- 

 ing tools, and Weapons — Eating Human Flesh — Face of the Country — Banks's 

 Peninsula — Cook's Cape, Harbour, and Strait — Visit from the Natives — Women 

 an Article of Traffic — East Cape — Mercury Bay — Great Utility of Missionaries — 

 Bay of Islands — Royal Visiters — Visit to the Mission — Orderly Arrangement — 

 Sail to the North— The New-Hebrides— Hope Island— Steer to the West- 

 New Discoveries anticipated. 



New-Zealand consists of two large islands, lying north-east and 

 south-west of each other, in the South Pacific Ocean, separated by a pas- 

 sage called Cook's Strait. The northernmost of these islands is called 

 by the natives Eaheino-mawe, and the southernmost Tain Poenammoo. 

 The northern island is four hundred and thirty-six miles in length, and 

 its medium breadth is probably about sixty miles ; it comprises, therefore, 

 more than twenty-six thousand square miles. The southern island is 

 three hundred and sixty miles in length, and averages about one hundred 

 in breadth ; comprising thirty-six thousand square miles. 



The whole country of New-Zealarid lies between the thirty-fourth 

 and forty-eighth degrees of south latitude ; and between the longitudinal 

 degrees of one hundred and sixty-six and one hundred and seventy-nine, 

 east from Greenwich. Its mean location, therefore, is latitude 41° 0', 

 longv 173° 0' east. This country, or rather its western coast, was first 

 discovered in 1642 by Tasman. The discovery was afterward pursued 

 by M. de Surville, a French navigator ; continued by the celebrated 

 Cook, and completed by the enterprising Vancouver, who was the pupil 

 of that great navigator. Not being able to reach one of the arms of 

 Dusky Bay, near the western point of the northern island, Cook gave it 

 the name of " Nobody-knows-what" His pupil succeeded, and changed 

 the name to " Somebody-knows-what." This point, which is called 

 Cape West, is about three hundred and fifty leagues south-east of Port 

 Jackson, Botany Bay. 



This country is rapidly rising into importance in proportion as it 



