Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/273

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Feb. 1770.]
Off Banks Peninsula, New Zealand.
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Men, came off to the Ship; they kept at the distance of about a Stone's throw from us, and would not be prevailed upon to put alongside by all that Tupia could say to them. From this we concluded that they never had heard of our being upon the coast. At 8 p.m. a breeze sprung up at S.S.W., with which we Stretched off S.E., because some on board thought they saw land in that Quarter. We continued on this course until 6 A.M., at which time we had run 11 Leagues, but saw no land but that which we had left. Soon after this it fell calm, and continued so for an hour; then a light breeze sprung up at West, which afterwards veer'd to the N., and we stood to the Westward. At Noon our Lat, by Observation was 42° 56′ S., and the High Land we were abreast of yesterday at Noon, N.N.W. ½ W.

Friday, 16th.—In the P.M. had a light breeze N.E., with which we steer'd W., edging in for the land, which was distant from us about 8 Leagues. At 7 o'Clock the Southermost Extream of the land in sight bore W.S.W., being about 6 Leagues from the Shore; soon after this it fell Calm, and continued so most part of the night, with sometimes light Airs from the land. At daylight we discover'd land bearing S. by W., and seemingly detached from the Coast we were upon; at 8 o'Clock a breeze sprung up at N. by E., and we steer'd directly for it. At Noon was in the Latitude of 43° 19′ S.; the Peak on the Snowy Mountains bore N. 20° E., distant 27 Leagues; the Southern Extremity we could see of that land bore W., and the land discover'd in the morning, making like an Island, extending from S.S.W. to S.W. by W. ½ W., distant about 8 Leagues; our Course and distance sail'd since yesterday at Noon S.W. by W., 43 Miles; Variation by this Morning's Amplitude 14° 39′ E.

Saturday, 17th.—P.M. stood to the Southward for the land above mention'd, with the wind at N., a fresh breeze and Clear weather. At 8 o'Clock we had run 11 Leagues since Noon, when the land extended from S.W. by W. to N. by W., being distant from the nearest shore about 3 or 4 Leagues; in this situation had 50 fathoms, a fine sandy bottom. Soon after this it fell Calm, and continued so until 6 A.M., when a light breeze sprung up at N.W., which afterwards veer'd to N.E. At sunrise, being very Clear, we plainly discover'd that the last mentioned land was an Island by seeing part of the Land of Tovy-poenammu open to the Westward of it, extending as far as W. by S. At 8 o'Clock the Extreams of the Island bore N. 76° W. and N.N.E. ½ E., and an opening that had the Appearance of a Bay or Harbour, lying near the South point N. 20° W., distant 3 or 4 Leagues, being in 38 fathoms, a brown Sandy bottom. This Island,[1] which I have named after Mr. Banks,

  1. It is not an island, but a mountainous peninsula, still called after Mr. Banks, but from the lowness of the land it adjoins, looks like an island. On the north side is the