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. 165

New Zealand

November 1769
Mercury Bay [in margin]
Europe could not have Choosen better for a Small Number of Men to defend themselves against a greater, it is strong by Nature & made more so by Art It is only Accessible on the land side & there have been cut a Ditch, & a Bank raised on the inside from the Top of the Bank to the Bottom of the Ditch was about 22 feet & the depth of the Ditch on the land side 14 feet its breadth was in Proportion to its depth & the whole seem'd to have been done with great Judgment. There had been a row of Pickets on the Top of the Bank & another on the outside of the  Ditch these last had been set deep in the ground & Sloping with their upper ends hanging over the Ditch. the whole had been burnt down, so that it is probable that this place has been taken & destroy'd by an Enemy. The People on this side of the Bay seem now to have no houses or fix'd habitations but Sleep in the open Air, under Trees & in small Temporary shades, but to all appearance they are better of on the other side but there we have not set foot. In the morning being dirty rainy weather I did not Expect any of the Natives off with fish, but thinking that they might have some ashore, I sent a Boat with some Trade who return'd about noon loaded with Oysters which they got in the River which is abreast of the Ship but saw no fish among the Natives --

Sunday 12th PM had Strong Gales at NE & hazey rainy wear. AM A fresh breeze at NW & Clear wear.in the morning got onboard a Turn of Water & afterwards sent the Longboat into the River for Oysters to take to sea with us & I went with the Pinnace & Yawl accompanied by Mr Banks & Dr Solander over to the No. side of the Bay in order to take a View of the Country & the Fortified Village which stands their, we landed abt. a mile from it & were meet by the inhabitants in our way [indecipherable] who with a great deal of good nature & friendship conducted us into the place & shew'd us everything that was there ~
This Village is built upon a high promontory or point to the No. side & near the head of the Bay it is in some places quite inaccessible to man & in others very difficult except on that side which faced the narrow ridge of the hill on which it stands, here it is defended by a double ditch a bank & 2 rows of Picketing, the inner row upon the Bank but not so near the Crown but what there was good room for men to Walk & handle their Arms between the Picketing & the inner Ditch, the outer Picketing was between the 2 Ditches & laid sloping with their upper ends hanging over the inner Ditch the Depth of this Ditch from the bottom to the Crown of the bank was 24 feet close with in the inner Picketing was Erected by strong posts a stage 20 feet high & 40 in length & 6 feet broad the use of this stage was to stand upon to throw Darts at the