with Oysters. And now I intended to put to Sea in the morning if wind and weather will permit. In the night had the wind at S.E., with rainy, dirty, hazey weather, which continued all day, so that I could not think of Sailing, but thought myself very happy in being in a good Port. Samuel Jones, Seaman, having been confin'd since Saturday last for refusing to come upon deck when all hands were called, and afterwards refused to Comply with the orders of the officers on deck, he was this morning punished with 12 lashes and remited back to confinement.
Tuesday, 14th.—Fresh Gales, Easterly, and rainy, Dirty weather.
Wednesday, 15th.—In the evening I went in the Pinnace and landed upon one of the Islands that lies off of the S. Head of the Bay, with a view to see if I could discover any sunken rocks or other Dangers lying before the Entrance of the Bay, as there was a pretty large swell at this Time. The Island we landed upon was very small, yet there were upon it a Village, the inhabitants of which received us very friendly. This little Village was laid out in small Oblong squares, and each pallisaded round. The Island afforded no fresh Water, and was only accessible on one side: from this I concluded that it was not choose for any Conveniency it could afford them, but for its Natural Strength.
At 7 A.M. weigh'd, with a light breeze at W., and clear weather, and made Sail out of the Bay, steering N.E., for the Northermost of a Number of Islands lying off the N. point of the Bay. These Islands are of Various extents, and lye Scattered to the N.W. in a parallel direction with the Main as far as we could see. I was at first afraid to go within them, thinking that there was no safe Passage, but I afterwards thought that we might; and I would have attempted it, but the wind, coming to the N.W., prevented it, so that we were obliged to stand out to Sea. At Noon was in the Latitude of 36° 4′ S. The Northermost Island, above mentioned, bore N., distant half a League; the Court of Aldermen, S.E. by S., distant 6 Leagues; and the Bay Sail'd from, which I have named Mercury Bay, on account of the observation being made there, S.W. by W., distant 6 Miles.
Mercury Bay[1] lies in the Latitude of 36° 47′ S., and the Longitude of 184° 4′ W., from the Meridian of Greenwich. It lies in S.W. between 2 and 3 Leagues. There are several Islands lying both to the Southward and Northward of it, and a Small high Island or Rock in the Middle of the Entrance. Within this Island the depth of water doth no were Exceed 9 or 8 fathoms; the best Anchorage is in a sandy Bay which lies just within the South head in 5 and 4 fathoms, bringing a high Tower Rock, which lies without the head, in one with the head, or just shut in behind
- ↑ At the head of Mercury Bay is a small settlement called Whitianga.
