COOK'S FIRST VOYAGE {1768 1771). BANKS’ JOURNAL. 1 3 
11th they took leave, having collected forty species of plants at this 
, place. Then follows a description of the natives. On the 15th they 
were at Hawke’s Bay. He gives an account of the use of the rhizome 
of the bracken fern as food by the natives, 
j On the 8th November Banks writes, “ We botaiiised with our usual 
I good success, which could not be doubted in a country so totally new.” 
! On the following day Mr. Green went ashore to observe the Transit 
' of Mercury, at a place therefore called Mercury Bay, and his observa- 
tions were quite successful, not a cloud intervening. 
On the 12th, Banks first visited “ an Indian fort or heppah,” and 
gives an excellent account of a Maori pah. On the 20th they discovered 
I a river “ broad as the Thames at Greenwich,” to which accordingly 
the name of the Thames was given. On the fo lowing day they got 
under way once more. 
Then began the circumnavigation of New Zealand. On the 1st 
December, Banks records the practice of cannibalism. On the 9th 
they were abreast of Cape Maria van Diemen, and on the 24th at the 
Three Kings. On the 12th January, 1770, they were abreast of Mount 
Egmont, and here Banks notes that with their glasses they observed 
plants which “ bore much resemblance to flocks of sheep;” these were 
the “ vegetable sheep ” (Raoulia, etc.). 
On the 15th they were at (^ueen Charlotte’s Sound. On the fith 
February they entered those straits which were named Cook’s Straits, 
and on the 9th at a cape, accordingly named Turnagain, they went 
south once more. On the 17th they were close to what was deemed 
to be an island, but it was afterwards found to be a peninsula, and 
was called after Banks. 
On the 2.‘5rd P’ebruarv they were near Otago Harbour, and on the 
9th March were off Stewart Island, then supposed to be a peninsula. 
On the 24th they were at Cape Farewell, and on the 26th at Admiralty 
Bay. 
Banks now gives a general account of New Zealand, beginning 
with a statement of its discovery by Tasman on the 1.3th December, 
1642, and speaking most warmly of his merits. He says, “ The sea 
coast, should it ever be examined, will probably be found to abound 
in good harbours.” An account is given of the fish and plants, and 
special attention was devoted to New Zealand flax. The natives, 
— their tattooing, dress and ornaments, food and houses, canoes, 
fishing-nets and other manufactures, their weapons, musical instru- 
ments, language and customs, are described with considerable detail, 
considering the shortness of the time they were in New Zealand, and 
the few opportunities they had of intercourse, owing to the unfriendli- 
ness of the natives. Banks’ account is of special interest to our good 
fuends in the neighbouring Dominion. 
