Chap. VI. SUGAR-LOAF ISLANDS. 107 
parallel ruler, a very doubtful quadrant, and a rusty 
pair of compasses, by means of which he used to make 
a determined guess at the position of the ship every day 
at noon. Having ascertained this to his own satisfaction, 
he would draw a cross of large size on the map, and de- 
clare that to be our actual position, with much empha- 
sis. He denied the existence of any such thing as 
variation of the compass ; and retired upon his dignity 
as commander whenever any approach was made to in- 
quiry as to the data on which he founded his calcula- 
tions. 
We at length managed to come in sight of the 
Sugar-loaf Islands on the 1st of February, and anchored 
to the north of the inner one, Moturoa, or "High 
" Island," in the afternoon. Barrett came off from the 
island and piloted her to the anchorage. The Acquilla 
cutter came in from the southward and anchored about 
the same time. Mr. White was on board ; and Barrett 
told us that he had been here once before, since he left 
Kaipara, trying to buy the Taranaki district, but had 
been foiled by Dicky's superior influence. 
Dr. Dorset and I landed on Moturoa, and clambered 
up the sides of this conical rock to a terrace about 100 
feet above the sea, where our friends had taken up their 
abode. We found ourselves in a niche about twenty 
yards in circumference, sheltered by ah over-arching 
rock. In one corner was a ware punt, occupied by 
Barrett and his family, and in the middle a wata, or 
" storehouse," stuck upon four poles about six feet high, 
and only approachable by a wooden log with steps cut 
in it. We were received cordially by E Rangi and 
the children, Barrett's black cook Lee, Dr. Dieffen- 
bach, " Worser," the whaler whom I before mentioned 
as having piloted the ToTeerau whaler into Kapiti 
roads, and six or seven natives of both sexes. 
