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. 229

Metal; the White stone we saw near the South Cape & some other parts to the Southward which I took to be a kind of Marble such as I had seen on one of the Hills I was upon in Mercury Bay. Mr Banks & I afterwards found was of Opinion that they were Mineral to the highest degree who is certainly a much better Judge of these things than I am & therefore I might be mistaken in my opinion which was only founded on what I had before seen not only in this Country but in other parts where I have been & at the same time I must observe we were not less that 6 or 8 Leags. from the Land & nearer it was not possible for us at that time to come witht. running the Ship into Apparent Danger. however I am no Judge how far Mineral can be distinguished as such. Certain it is that in Southern parts of this Country there are whole Mountains of Nothing Else but stone some of which no doubt may be found to contain Metal.
Propose 2 place for fixg a Colony [in margin]
Should it ever become at Object to Settle this Country the best place for the first fixing of a Colony would be either in the River Thames or the Bay of Islands, for at either of these places they would have the Advantage of a good Harbour & by means of the former an Easy Communication would  be had & settlements might be extended into the inland parts of the Country for at a very little trouble & Expense small Vessels might be built in the River proper for the Navigation thereof. It is too much for me to assert how little water a Vessel ought to draw to Navigate this River even as far up as I was in the Boat this depends intirely upon the Depth of Water that is upon the bar or flat that lay before the narrow part of the River which I had not an oppy. of making myself acquainted with, but I am of Opinion that a Vessel that draws not above 10 or 12 feet may do it with Ease. 
so far as I have been able to Judge of the Genious of these People it does not appear to me to be at all difficult for Strangers to form a settlement in this Country. they seem to be too much divided among themselves to unite in opposing, by which means & kind & Gentle usuage the Colonists would be able to form strong Parties among them ~ 
Of the Natives their Persons & Habits [in margin]
The Natives of this Country are a Strong raw boned well made Active People rather above than under the common size, especially the Men. they are of a very dark brown Colour with black hair, thin black beards, & White Teeth & such as do not disfigure their faces by tattowing &ct. have in general very good features. the Men generally were their Hair long Comb'd up & tied upon the Crown of their Heads some of the women wear it long & loose upon their Shoulders old Women especially others again were it Crop'd short. their Combs are made some of bone & others of Wood they sometimes wear them as an Ornament stuck upright in the Hair. they seem to enjoy a good state of Health & many of them live to a good old Age. many of the old & some of the Middle Aged Men have their faces mark'd