From this Cape the Land Trends away S.E. by S. and S.E. to and beyond Mount Camel, and is everywhere a barren shore affording no better prospect than what ariseth from white sand Banks. At ½ past 7 p.m. the Island of the 3 Kings bore N.W. by N. and Cape Maria Van Diemen N.E. by E., distant 4 Leagues. At 5 a.m. Cape Maria Van Diemen bore N.N.E. ½ E. and Mount Camel E. At Noon was in the Lat. of 35° 17′ and Cape Maria Van Diemen by judgment bore N. distant 16 Leagues; having no land in sight, not daring to go near it as the wind blow'd fresh right on shore and a high rowling Sea from the Same Quarter, and knowing that there was no Harbour that we could put into in case we were Caught upon a lee shore.
Wednesday, 3rd.—Winds at W.S.W. and S.W.; a fresh breeze and Squally, the remainder moderate with frequent Squalls attended with rain. In the evening shortned Sail and at Midnight Tack'd and made a Trip to the N.W. until 2 a.m., then wore and stood to the Southward. At daylight made Sail and Edged away in order to make the Land; at 10 saw it bearing N.E. and appeared to be high land; at Noon it extended from N. to E.N.E. distant, by Estimation, 8 or 10 Leagues, and Cape Maria Van. Diemen bore N. 2° 30′ W., distant 33 Leagues. Our Latitude by observation was 36° 2′ S. A high rowling swell from the S.W.
Thursday, 4th.—Winds at S.W. and S.W. by S.; mostly a fresh Gale accompanied with a rowling sea from the same Quarter. Being desirous of taking as near a View of the coast as we could with safety we keept Edging in for it until 7 o'Clock p.m., being at this time 6 Leagues from the Land. We then hauld our wind to S.E. and keept on that Course close upon the wind all night, sounding several times but had no ground with 100 and 110 fathoms. At 8 o'Clock a.m. was about 5 Leagues from the Land and a place which lies in the Lat. of 36° 25′ that had the Appearance of a Bay or inlet bore E.[1] In order to see more of this place we kept on our Course until 11 o'Clock when we were not above 3 Leagues from it, and then found that it was neither a Bay nor inlet, but low land bounded on each side by higher lands which caused the deception. At this time we Tack'd and stood to the N.W. At Noon we were between 3 and 4 Leagues from the Land and in the Lat. of 36° 31′ and Long. 185° 50′ W. Cape Maria Van Diemen bore N. 25 W., distant 44½ Leagues. From this. I form my judgment of the direction of this Coast, which is nearly S.S.E. ¾ E. and N.N.W. ¾ W., and must be nearly a Strait Shore. In about the Latitude 35° 45′ is some high land adjoining to the
- ↑ This was Kaipara Harbour, although, on a closer inspection, Cook thought he had been deceived. It is the largest harbour on this part of the coast. The town of Helensville stands on one of its arms.
