182 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
in, causing us to let go the anchor in Worser Bay, 
where we remained for the night. 
The next morning the weather had moderated 
sufficiently for us to make a start. On getting 
through Cook’s Straits, we made sail, and did a little 
sounding and dredging, but after a few days out, a 
gale drove us fast to the northward, and so prevented 
our completing the section, which had been so much 
desired ; as the similarity of the flora of New Zealand 
to that of its neighbouring lands indicates that they 
were at one time joined, and that New Zealand was 
part of a large continent embracing the islands to the 
south and east of it, and also the Kermadec group and 
Norfolk and Lord Howe’s Islands, near the Australian 
shore. If the weather had been favourable, a few 
soundings would have helped to settle this interesting 
question. 
On the 13th we passed within a short distance of 
a dangerous reef, indicated as Esperanza Rock, and 
at daylight the next morning land was seen, and 
proved to be the islands comprising the Kermadec 
group. They were first reported by Admiral d’En- 
trecasteaux, who saw them on March 15, 1793. This 
cluster of rocky islets, from their hidden reefs, &c., 
is to be avoided rather than approached. The 
largest, Sunday Island, is not more than 12 miles in 
circumference : its highest point is 1627 feet above 
the level of the sea, presenting a rugged and steep 
appearance. Until recently an American family was 
