[Page 193]
New Zealand
January 1770
the land is so closely cover'd with wood that we could penetrate into the country.
[Two indecipherable words in the margin]
Friday 19th Woods & wear as yesterday & the employmt of the people the same in the PM. Some of our people found in the skirts of the wood 3 hip Bones of Men they lay near to a Hole or Oven that is a place where the Natives dress their Victuals this Circumstance trifling as it is, is still a further proof that these people eat human flesh. In the AM set up the Forge to repair the braces of the Tiller & such other Iron work as was wanting. The natives came along side & sold us a quantity of large Mackerel for nails Pieces of Cloth & Paper & in this Traffick they never once attempted to defraud us of any one thing, but dealt as fair as people could do.
Saturday 20th Winds Southerly, & fair pleasant wear empld Woodg Watg etc & in the AM sent part of the powder ashore to be Air'd, some of the Natives brot alongside in one of their Canoes 4 of the heads of the men they had lately kill'd both the Hairy Scalps & Skin of the faces were on Mr Banks bought one of the 4 but they would not part with any of the other on any acct whatever, the one Mr Banks got had received a blow on the Temple that had broke the skull this morning I set out in the Pinnace accompanied by Mr Banks & DrSolander in order to Survey the Wt Coast of the Bay, we took our rout towards the head of the Bay but it was near noon before we had got beyond the place we had been before.
Sunday 21st PM a Gentle breeze of Wind Southerly the remaind light Airs & Calm with clear settled wear PM the People employ'd as usual & at 8 o'Clock we return'd onbd with the Pinnace from surveying the Bay in the doing of which I met with an Excellent Harbour but saw no Inhabitants or any Cultivated land. in the AM after hauling the Sean for fish. I gave every body leave to go a Shore at the Watering place to amuse themselves as they thought proper
Monday 22d PM & in the night had Variable light Airs & Calms, AM had a fresh breeze Southerly & Cloudy wear in the morning the people were set about the necessary business of the Ship & I set out in the Pinnace accompanied by Mr Banks & Dr Solander with a view of examining the head of the Inlet, but after rowing between 4 & 5 Leags up it & finding no probability of reaching or even seeing the end the wind being against us and the day already half spent we landed ^at noon on the SE side in order to try to get upon one of the Hills to View the Inlet from thence.
Tuesday 23rd PM Winds Southerly a fresh breeze agreeable to what is mentioned above I took one hand with me & climbed up to the top of one of the Hills, but when I came there I was hindered from seeing up the inlet by higher hills which I could not come at for impenetrable woods, but I was abundantly recompensed for the trouble I had in assending