POLYNESIAN RESExlRCHES. 
33 
at length thrown down, some prisoners taken, and ulti¬ 
mately both parties retreated to a distance, whence they 
renewed the combat. As the day closed, these sports were 
discontinued, and the combatants and spectators retired to 
their respective encampments. 
Having filled our water casks, increased our supply 
of provender for the cattle and sheep I had on board, 
procured a number of logs of timber towards the erection 
of our future dwelling; and having spent a week very 
pleasantly with our Missionary brethren; we took leave 
of them, grateful for the assistance of their influence with 
the natives, and the kindness and hospitality we had ex¬ 
perienced at their hands. 
New Zealand comprises two large and several smaller 
islands, extending from 34 degrees to 47 degrees south 
latitude, and from 166 to about 180 degrees east long. 
It was discovered by Tasman, a Dutch navigator, in 1642. 
He sailed from the north point along the eastern shore, 
which was afterwards called Cook’s Straits, where he 
anchored in a bay, to which, in consequence of an attack 
from the natives, he gave the name of Murderers’ Bay, 
and finally left the coast without landing. In 1770^ 
New Zealand was visited and explored by Captain Cook, 
who discovered the straits that are called by his name. 
The settlement at Rangehoo, and one formed subsequently 
by the Wesleyan Missionary Society in Wangaroa, and 
the Church Missionary station at Kerekere, are all on 
the large northern island. The climate is salubrious, 
the thermometer ranging between 40 and 80 degrees, 
avoiding the heat of the tropical climates, yet warmer 
than most of the temperate latitudes, generally equable, 
and seldom experiencing those sudden vicissitudes so 
frequent in the variable climate of England. The soil is 
