State Library of NSW
New Zealand
this Island I have named Isle of Portland on account of its very great resemblance [Left Margin note] Portland to Portland in the English Channell[sic] it lies about a mile from a Point on the Main but there appears to be a ledge of Rocks extending nearly if not quite across from the one to the other Nº.57 E.t 2 Miles from the Sº. point of Portland lies a sunken rock whereon the Sea breaks, we passed between this Rock & the land having 17:18 & 20 fathom Water, we saw a great Number of the Natives assembled together on the Isle of Portland, we likewise saw some on the Main land & several Places that were Cultivated & laid out in square Plantations. Friday 13th At 1 PM we discover'd land behind or to the Westward of Portland extending to the Southward as far as we could see in hauling round the South end of Portland we fell into Shoal Water & broken ground which we however soon got clear of. at this time 4 Canoes came off to us full of People & keept[sic] for sometime under our Stern threatning of us all the while, as I did not know but what I might be obliged to send our Boats ahead to sound I thought these Gentry would be as well out of the way I order'd[sic] a Musquet shott to be fir'd Close to one of them but this they took no notice of, a 4 Pounder was then fir'd a little wide of them at this they began to shake their Spears & Paddles at us, but notwithstanding this they thought fit to retire. ~ Having got round Portland we hauled in for the Land NW having a Gentle breeze at N Et. which died away at 5 o'clock & obliged us to Anchor in 21 faom. [Left Margin note] Hawkes Bay a fine sandy bottom the South Point of Portland bore SE ½S distant about 2 Lg's. & a low point on the Main bore N ½ Et .in this last direction there runs in a deep bay behind the Land on which is TableCape which makes this land a Peninsula join'd to the Main by a low narrow neck of land the Cape is the Nº. point of the Peninsula & Portland the Sº. while we lay at Anchor 2 Boats came off to us & so near as to take up somethings we throw'd[sic] them out of the Ship but would not come alongside. At 5 AM a breeze springing northerly we weigh'd & steer'd in for the Land. The shore here forms a very large Bay of which Portland is the NEt. point & the Bay above mentioned is an Arm of it. I would gladly have examin'd this Arm because there appear'd to be safe Anchorage, in it, but as I was not certain of this & the wind being right an End, I did not care to spend time in Turning up to it, At Noon Portland bore Sº.50 Et. & the Southerm.st land in sight bore SSWt. dist.e 10 or 12 Lg's being about 3 Miles from the Shore & in this Situation had 12 fam water, 24 fa.om have been the most Water we have had since we have been within Portland every were[where] clear ground ~ The land near the Shore is of a Mod.te height with white Cliffs & sandy beaches. inland are several pretty high Mountains & the whole face of the Country appears with a very hilly surface & for the most part Covered with wood & hath all the appearances of a very pleasant & fertile Country~
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