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. 213

[Page 213]
New Zealand
[In margin] 1770 February
in Shore WbS 4 Leagsour Depth of Water from 32 to 13 Fam in this last Depth we tack'd & stood off, being abt 3 Miles from the Shore which lies nearly N & So & is here very low & flat & continues so up to the Skirts of the Hills which are at least 4 or 5 Miles inland the whole face of the Country appears barren, nor did we see any signs of inhabitants. Latde at Noon 44°:44' So Longde made from Banks's Island to this land 2°: 22'Wt

Wednesday 21st Wind at So a fresh Gale at 2 PM being in 50 fam & 12 leags from the land we Tack'd & stood in shore until' 8 o'Clock when we Tack'd & Stood off until' 4 AM then Tack'd & stood in, at 8 o'Clock being 10 Leags from the land had 57 fam at noon being in the Latde 44:35 & 5 or 6 Leags from the land had 36 fam. notwithstanding we have carried as much sail as the Ship could bear it is apparent from the Obserd Latde that we have been drove 3 Leags to leeward since yesterday.

Thursday 22d Modte breezes between the SEt & SbW & dark gloomy wear with a Swell from the SEt. plying to windwd keeping between 4 & 12 Leags from the land depth of water from 35 to 53 fam fine sandy bottom a great many Sea fowl & Grampusses about the Ship - in the AM Condem'd 60 fam of the Bt Ber Cable & converted it into Junk. at Noon had no observation but by the land judged our selves to be about 3 Leags farther North than yesterday.

Friday 23d Winds Southerly a Gentle breeze & for the most part Cloudy wear at sun set the wear clearing up presented to our View a high peaked Mountain bearing NWbN & at the same time we saw the land more Distincter than at any time we had before extendg from No to SWbS, the inland parts of which appear'd to be high & mountainous, we cannot as yet tell weather or no this land joins to or makes a part of the land we have left. from the accts received from the Natives of Queen Charlotte's Sound it ought not because if it did it must have been impossible for us to have sail'd round it in 4 Days,  besides the mountains inland & the soundgs off the Coast seem to indicate this Country to be more extensive than any they spoke of lying to the southward — Having a large hollow swell from the SEt which made me expect the wind from the same quarter, we kept plying from 7 to 15 Leagues from the land depth of water from 44 to 70 fathom, at Noon our Latde by Observn was 44°:40'So Longde made from Banks's Island 1°:31' Wt —

Saturday 24th Calm until 6 PM at which time a light breeze sprung up at ENEt with which we steer'd SSEt all Night edging off from the Land because of a hollow swell which we had from the SEt depth of water from 60 to 75 fam at day light the wind began to freshen & before noon blowed a fresh gale & veer'd to NNE. at 8 AM Saw the land extending as far as SWbS, which we steer'd directly for & at Noon we were in the Latitude of 45:22So the land in sight extending from SW½S to NNW, making high & hilly Course & distce run since yesterday at noon is So