84 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. II. 
east, and then to the north-east, thus insulating but a 
narrow strip of land, and running nearly parallel to 
the Sound for the greater part of its course. As we 
left the main arm of Queen Charlotte's Sound, we saw 
at its southern end, some six or seven miles from us, 
a tract of level land apparently two or three miles wide, 
from which a grove of high trees rose up. 
The effect of the scenery was heightened by the re- 
markable clearness of the atmosphere. The distant 
land shone forth with distinct outline and brilliant 
colours. When we were at Ship Cove, the wooded 
edge of Entry Island, which is at least thirty miles 
distant, was generally plain to the eye, relieved against 
the snowy mountains of the North Island. As we 
entered into the narrow channel, the wind died away ; 
but a tide, running four or five knots an hour, drifted 
us along. Eddies were formed on the shores, and we 
were obliged to have boats towing a-head in order to 
keep the ship in mid-channel. In most parts of the 
sound and channel the depth of water is from thirty to 
forty fathoms, even close in to the shore; but the 
numerous bays afford more secure anchorage, out of 
the influence of the tide. About half-way through 
the channel a small island lies in the mouth of one of 
these bays, crowned by the palisadoes of a native fort. 
The inhabitants eyed us eagerly from the shore, and 
one or two canoes approached the ship. They seemed 
cautious of too near intercourse. This was soon ex- 
plained to us by our pilots. In the year 1838, the 
Pelorus, English brig-of-war, visited different parts of 
Cook's Strait, and did great service here by rendering 
justice to the injured party in many cases where com- 
plaint was made to the commander. After a display 
of gunnery close to this very pa, the commander de- 
manded and obtained restitution of many articles stolen 
