XVill HISTORY OF 
very stout; there were likewise many other sorts of very Stout Timber 
Trees, all of them wholy unknown to any of us. We brought away a few 
specimens, and at 3 oClock we embarqued in order to return.” It 1s 
somewhat distressing to state that the historic tree mentioned above, alter 
surviving one hundred and thirty years with unimpaired vitality, was 
wantonly cut down only a few years ago. 
From the Thames River Cook’s course was directed to Cape Rodney, 
and from thence northwards to Cape Brett, which was reached on the 
27th November. Here contrary winds were met with, and it was not 
until the 29th that the cape was weathered, and an anchorage found in 
the Bay of Islands, where the “ Endeavour” remained until the 5th 
December. During this time visits were made to several of the islands 
in the bay, and to the mainland; but as it was impossible to go far from 
the coast, along which the vegetation was by no means varied, not many 
plants were collected, only seventy-seven being credited to the locality 
in Solander’s manuscripts. 
Leaving the Bay of Islands, Cook continued his survey of the coast 
to the North Cape, where he met with fierce and prolonged gales of such 
exceptional character that three weeks were occupied in rounding it. He 
then proceeded southwards aleng the western coast, but its dangerously 
open character prevented him from making a close approach. He conse- 
quently failed to observe any of the harbours— Hokianga, Kaipara, 
Manukau, Kawhia, &c.—and, as no canoes were seen, there was no inter- 
course with the inhabitants. He passed Mount Egmont on the 13th 
January, entered Cock Strait on the 15th, and on the 16th anchored in ~ 
Queen Charlotte Sound, in the northern portion of the South Island. 
In this locality he made a stay of three weeks, taking advantage of his 
visit to careen and clean his ship, to lay in a stock of wood and water, and 
to give his crew the welcome change of a diet of fresh fish and green vege-_ 
tables. He remarks that Queen Charlotte Sound “is a collection of some 
of the finest harbours in the world,” and that “the Cove in which we lay, 
called Ship Cove, is not inferior to any in the Sound, both in point of 
Security and other Conveniences.” He also says that the land ‘“‘ consists 
wholly of high hills and deep Valleys, well stored with a variety of excellent 
Timber, fit for all purposes except Ship’s Masts, for which use it is too 
hard and heavy.’ ‘The collection of plants made was larger than that 
formed in any other locality, numbering 220 species. 
Taking his departure from Queen Charlotte Sound on the 7th February, 
Cook first took a run northwards to Cape Turnagain, thus completing his 
survey of the North Island. He then turned to the south, passing down 
the east coast of the South Island. On the 17th February he rounded 
Banks Peninsula, which he took to be an island; on the 25th February 
he was off Cape Saunders; and on the 10th March he was abreast of the 
south end of Stewart Island, which he assumed to be a peninsula connected 
with the mainland by a narrow neck. On the 13th he passed the entrance 
to Dusky Sound, from whence he followed the western coast northwards, 
reaching Cape Farewell on the 24th March, and thus completing the 
cireumnavigation of the South Island. On the 27th he put into Admiralty 
Bay, to the west of Queen Charlotte Sound, for the purpose of again 
renewing his stock of wood and water, and on the 31st he left New Zealand, 
steering a course for the east coast of Australia. 
In 1771 Cook returned to England. The natural-history collections, 
which were the property of Sir Joseph Banks, contained a large amount 
