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[Page 167]

163.
Some account of New Zealand

The face of the countrey in in general Mountanous, especialy inland, where probably runs a chain of very high hills, parts of which we saw at several times; they were generaly coverd with snow, & certainly very high; some of our officers, men of experience, did not scruple to say as much so as The pike of Teneriffe; in that particular however I cannot quite agree with them; tho that they must be very high, is sufficiently provd by the hill to the Northward of the mouth of Cooks streights; which was seen, & made no inconsiderable figure, at the distance of Leagues.

The sea coast, (should it ever be examind) will probably be found to abound in good harbours, as we saw several; of which the Bay of Islands or Motuaro, & Queen Charlots Sound or Totarra nue, are as good as any seaman need desire to come into; either for good anchorage, or convenience of Wooding & watering. The first outer ridge of Land which lies open to the Sea, is (as I beleive is the case in most countries) generaly Barren; especialy to the Southward, but within that the hills are Coverd with thick woods quite to the top, & every Valley produces a rivulet of Water.

The Soil is in general light, & consequently admirably adapted to the uses for which the natives cultivate it, whose crops consist intirely of roots. on the Southern & western sides it is the most barren, the Sea side being there generaly bounded with

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