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. 219

[Page 219]

New Zealand
[in margin] March 1770
Monday 12th Fresh Gs between the Wt & NWt latter part squally with rain, Stood to the SWbS untill 11AM at which time the wind Shifted to the SWbWt we wore & Stood to the NNWt being then in the Latitude of 47:40So & in the Longde 193°:50'Wt having a Hollow Sea from the SWt

Tuesday 13th Strong Gs between the SWbW and SSWt with a large Hollow sea from the same Quarter in the PM had freqt squalls with Showers of rain, in the night had several very heavy squalls attended with Showers of Hail which obliged us to take in our Topsls during the Night, Steer'd NNWt untill 6 AM when seeing no land we steer'd NbEt & set the main Topsl single reeft, at 8 set the foretopsl single reeft & loosed all the Reefs out of the Main topsail & steer'd NEbE½Et in order to make the land, at 10 saw it bearing ENEt and appeared to be very high but being hazey over it we could see nothing distinct neither now nor at noon when by Obsern we were in the Latitude of 46°:0'So Course & distce saild snce yesterday No5°Wt 96 Miles & Longde made from the So Cape 1:40' Wt

Wednesday 14th In the PM had a fresh Gale from the Soward attended with Squalls, at 2 it Cleard up over the land which appeared high & Mountainous, at ½ past 3 double reeft the Topsls & hauld in for a Bay wherein there appear'd to be good anchorage& into which I had thoughts of going with the Ship but after standing in an hour we found the distance to great to run before dark & it blow'd too hard to attempt it in the Night or even to keep to windward, for these reasons we gave it up & bore away along shore. This Bay I have named Dusky bay it lies in in the Latde of 45°:47'So  it is about 3 or 4 Miles broad at the Entrance & seems to be full as deep, in it are sevl Islands behind which there must be shelter from all winds provided there is a Sufficient depth of Water, the No point of this bay when it bears SEbS is very remarkable there being off it five high Peaked rocks standing up like the four fingers & thum of a Mans hand on which acct I have named it Point five Fingers, the land of this point is farther remarkable by being the only level land near it & extends near 2 leags to the northwd,  it is pretty high, wholy cover'd with wood & hath very much the Appearance of an Island by its aspect being so very difft from the Land behind it which is nothing but barren rocky Mountains, at sun set the Southermost land in sight bore due So distt 5 or 6[?] Leags & as this is the Westermst point of land upon the whole Coast I have call'd it West Cape it lies about 3 Leagues to the Southward of the bay above mentioned in the Latde of 45°:54'So & Longde 193°:17' Wt, the land of this Cape seems to be of a modte height next the sea & hath Nothing remarkable about it that we could see Except a very White Clift two or three leags to the Southwd of it, the land to the Southwd of Cape