James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770: No. 222

[Page 222]
New Zealand

[in margin] March 1770

Wind shifted to So & SbW & Continued to blow a fresh Gale with which we steer's NEbN until' 6AM at which time we hauld in EbN in order to make the land wch we saw soon after. At Noon our Latde per Acct was 41º:37' & Longd from Cape West 5º:42'Et Course & distce saild since yesterday Nº60Et 92 Miles, at this time we were not above 3 or 4 Leagues from the land but being very foggy upon it we could see nothing distinct, & as we had not much wind & a prodigious swell rowling in upon the Shore from the WSWt I did not think it safe to go nearer.

Thursday 22d In the PM had a Gentle breeze from the SWt with which steer'd along shore NEt until' 8 when being about 2 or 3 Leags from shore we sounded & had 34 fam upon which we hauld off NWbN until' 11. then brot too having at this time 64 fam at 4AM made sail to the NEt wind at SSWt a light breeze at 8 the wind veer'd to the Westwd & soon after fell calm at this time were were about 3 or 4 Miles from the Shore & in 54 fam having a large swell from the WSWt rowling obliquely upon the Shore which put me under a good deal of Apprehension that we should be obliged to Anchor, but by the help of a light Air now & then from the SW. quarter we were enabled to keep the ship from driving much nearer the shore, at Noon the Northermst land in Sight bore NEbEt distce 8 or 10 Lgs, our Latde by acct was 40º:55'So Longde from C West 6º:35'Et Course & distce saild since yesterday at Noon N56Et 42 Miles very foggy over the Land.

Friday 23d Light Airs from the Southwd at intervals Calm the fore pt hazey the remainder clear pleasant wear at Noon our Latde by observn 40:36:30So Longde from Cape West 6:52Et the Eastermst point of lnd in sight bore º​​​​​​Et10ºNo dist 7 Leagse & a bluff head or Point we were abreast off yesterday at Noon off wch lay some rocks above the Water, bore So18Wt distt 6 Leags this point I have named Rocks Point Latde 40º:5'So [In margin is written: Rocks Point] having now nearly run down the whole of this NW Coast Tovy Poenammu it is time it is time I should describe the face of the Country as it hath at difft times appeared to us. [In margin is written: Face of the Country] I have mentioned on the 11 Instt. at which time we were off the Southern part of the Island that the land seen there was rugged & Mountainous & there is great reason to believe that the same ridge of Mountains extends nearly the whole length of the Island from between the Westermt Land seen that day & the Eastermt seen on the 13th there is a space of about 6 or 7 Leags of the sea coast unexplored but the Mountains inland were Visible enough, the land near the shore about Cape West is rather low & riseth with a gradual assent up to the foot of the Mountains & appear'd to be mostly covered with wood. From Point Five Fingers down to the Latitude of 44º:20' there is a narrow ridge of Hills rising directly from the Sea which are Cloathed with wood, close behind