CHAPTER XXVI. 



North Cape of New Zealand — Superstitions — Cook's great Lizard — 

 Traditions — Currents — Thermometer — Sydney — Dr. Darwin — 

 Drought — Aqueduct — Position — Disadvantages — Ill-acquired wealth 

 of Convicts, or Emancipists — Hobart Town — Advantages of Van 

 Diemen's Land — King George Sound — Natives — Dance — Keeling 

 Islands — Tides — Soundings — Coral formations — Malays— Fish — 

 Weather — Mauritius — Cape of Good Hope — St. Helena — Ascension 

 — Bahia — Pernambuco — Cape Verde Islands-— Azores — Arrive in 

 England, 



On the last day of this year (1835) we passed the north cape 

 of New Zealand, and steered for Port Jackson, It has been 

 said that the New Zealanders entertain vague ideas about 

 the spirits of their dead hovering near this north cape. 1 

 had no opportunity of inquiring into this superstition, but as 

 other authorities besides Cook mention it, no doubt there is 

 some such belief among those who have not acquired different 

 notions from foreigners To my mind it is interesting in two 

 points of view ; one, as showing their belief in a future state 

 of existence ; and the other, as indicating the quarter whence 

 New Zealand was first peopled ; for it appears to be an impres- 

 sion common to many savage nations, that their souls should go 

 to the land of their ancestors. This is particularly remarkable 

 among the South American aborigines. It is not easy to ima- 

 gine any motive for the New Zealanders supposing that spirits 

 hover about the North Cape, in preference to any other pro- 

 montory of New Zealand, unless in connexion with the idea 

 that from the point nearest to the country whence those people 

 formerly migrated, the souls of the deceased would, after a 

 time perhaps, depart to their permanent abode. 



In taking leave of this interesting country I will refer to 

 Cook once more, for a curious notice, given in his third voy- 

 age, respecting great lizards in New Zealand, which have not, 

 so far as I am aware, been lately described, or even met with. 

 ' Taweiharooa"* gave an account of snakes and lizards of an enor- 

 mous size : " he describes the latter as being eight feet in length, 



