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. 160

New Zealand
1769
November
the Western of it, hauld our wind in order to go without them but finding that we could not weather them before dark bore up & run between them & the Main at 7 was close under the first Island from whence a huge double Canoe full of People came off to us, this was the first double Canoe we had seen in their Country they staid about the Ship until it was dark then left us but not before they had thrown a few stones, they told us the name of the Island which was Mowtohora it is but of a small Circuit but high & lies from the Main under the S. side is Anchorage in 14 fam SWbs from this Island on the Mainland seemingly at no great distance from the Sea is a high round Mountain which I have named Mount Edgecumbe it stands in the middle of a large Plain which it makes it the more Conspicuous. Latde. 37º. 59' Longde. 183.07. In stand. to the Westwd. we Shoaled our water from 17 to 10 fam & knowing that we were not far from some Small Islands & Reefs that we had seen before dark after Pafsing of which I intended to have [indec.bis2] too for the night. but I now thought it more prudent to tack & spend the Night under
[Margin note} Mowtohora
the Island of Mowtohora where I knew their was no danger & it was well we did for in the morning after we had made Sail to the Westwd. we discovered Rocks ahead of us Level with under the Water they lay 1½ Leagues from the Island Mowtohora & about 9 Miles from the Main & NNE from Mount Edgecumbe. We pafsed between these Rocks & the Main having from 7 to 10 fam. The double Canoe which we saw last night follow'd us today under Sail & keept abreast of the Ship near an hour talking to Tupia but at last they began to Pelt us with Stones but upon firing one Musquet they dropt astern & left us, at ½ past 10 pafsed between a low flat Island & the Main the distance from one to the other being 4 Miles depth of Water 10, 12 & 15 fam. At Noon the flat Island bore from NE to E [indec.] N dist 5 or 6 Miles Lat. in Observn. 37º.39'. Longde. 188º.30'. The Mainland between this & the Island of Mowtohora which is 10 Leagues is of a modte. height & all a level flat Country pretty clear of wood & full of Plantations & Villiages, there Villiages are built upon Eminences near the Sea & are fortified on the land side with a Bank & a Ditch & Pallisaded all round, besides this some of them appear to have outworks. We have before now observed on several parts of the Coast small Villiages inclosed with Pallisades & works of this kind built on Eminences & Ridges of hills, but Tupia hath all along told us that they were Mories or places of Worship but I rather think they are places of retreat or strong hold where they defend themselves against the Attack of an Enemy as some of them seem'd not ill design'd for that Purpose. ~
Friday 3 PM Fresh Gales at NE&E & hazy wear at 2 pafs'd a small high