* 
Pxants, &c. of NEW ZEALAND. 21 
fruit of which furniihes them with velTels for various ufes. We 
alfo found here the Chinefe paper mulberry tree, the fame as 
that which the inhabitants of the South Sea iflands make their 
clbth ; but it is fo fcarce, that though the New Zealanders 
alfo make cloth of it, they have not enough for any other pur- 
pofe than to wear as an • ornament , in the holes which they 
make in their ears, as I have obferved before. 
But among all the trees, Ihrubs, and plants of this country', 
there is not one that produces fruit, except a berry which 
has neither fweetnefs nor flavour, and which' none but the 
boys took the pains to gather, lhould be honoured with that- 
appellation. There is, however, a plant that ferves the inha- 
bitants inftead of hemp and flax, which excels all that are 
put to the fame purpofes in other countries. Of this plant 
there are two forts ; the leaves of both refemble thofe of flags, 
but the flowers are fmaller, and their clufters more numerous ; 
in one kind they are yellow, and in the other a deep red. Of 
the leaves of thefe plants, with very little preparation, they 
make all their, common apparel ; and of thefe they make alfo 
their firings, lines, and- cordage for every purpofe, which are 
lb much flronger than any thing we can make with hemp, 
that they will not bear a comparifon. From the fame plant, 
by another preparation, they draw long (lender fibres, which 
Ihine like filk, and are as white as fnow : of thefe, which are 
alfo furprizingly flrong, the finer clothes are made ; and of 
the leaves, without any other preparation than fplitting them 
into proper breadths, aix^ tying, the flrips together, they make • 
their fifhing nets ; fome of which, as I have before remarked, 
are of an enormous fize. . 
A plant, which with fuch advantage might be applied to fo- 
many ufextri and important purpofes, would certainly be a 
great acquiiition to England, where it would probably thrive 
with very little trouble, .as it feems to be hardy, and to afletil 
no particular foil ; .being fdund equally in hill and valley , in 
the dried mould, and the'deepeft bogs : the bog, however, it 
feems rather to prefer; as near fuch places we obferved it to 
be larger than elfewhere. • 
I have already obferved, that we found great plenty of iron ■ 
find in Mercury Bay, and therefore .that iron ore is undoub- 
tedly to be found at no great diftance. As to other metals we 
had fcarcely knowledge enough of the country for conjecture. 
If the fettling of this country fhould ever be thought an ob- 
ject worthy the attention of Great Britain, the bell place for 
eflablifhing a colony would be either on the banks of the 
Thames, or in the country bordering upon the Bay of Iflands. 
In either place there would be the advantage of an excellent 
harbour ; and, by means of the river, fettlements might be 
extended, , and a communication eftablilhed with the inland 
parts 
