Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/239

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Nov. 1769.]
Off Cape Brett, North Island, N.Z.
163

36′ S.; Bream head bore S. distant 10 Miles; some small Islands (Poor Knights) at N.E. by N. distant 3 Lgs., and the Northermost land in sight bore N.N.W., being at this Time 2 miles from the Shore, and in this Situation had 26 fathoms; the land here about is rather low and pretty well cover'd with wood and seems not ill inhabited.

Sunday, 26th.—P.M., Gentle breezes between the E.N.E. and N., kept ranging along shore to the Northward. At the distance of 4 or 5 Miles off saw several Villages and some Cultivated lands; towards evening several Canoes came off to us, and some of the Natives ventur'd on board; to 2, who appear'd to be Chiefs, I gave presents. After these were gone out of the Ship, the others became so Troublesome that in order to get rid of them we were at the expence of 2 or 3 Musquet Balls, and one 4 pound Shott, but as no harm was intended them, none they received, unless they hapned to over heat themselves in pulling on shore. In the Night had variable light Airs, but towards morning had a light breeze at S., and afterward at S.E.; with this we proceeded slowly to the Northward. At 6 a.m. several Canoes came off from the place where they landed last night, and between this and noon many more came from other parts. Had at one time a good many of the people on board, and about 170 alongside; their behaviour was Tolerable friendly, but we could not prevail upon them to Traffic with us. At noon, the Mainland Extending from S. by E. to N.W. by W.; a remarkable point of land bore W., distant 4 or 5 miles. Latitude Observed 35° 11′ S.

Monday, 27th.—P.M., Gentle breezes Easterly, and Clear weather. At 3 passed the point of land afore-mentioned, which I have named Cape Brett in honour of Sir Piercy.[1] The land of this Cape is considerable higher than any part of the Adjacent Coast. At the very point of the Cape is a high round Hillock, and N.E. by N., near one Mile from this is a small high Island or Rock with a hole pierced thro' it like the Arch of a Bridge, and this was one reason why I gave the Cape the above name, because Piercy seem'd very proper for that of the Island. This Cape, or at least some part of it, is called by the Natives Motugogogo; Lat. 35° 10′ 30″ S., Long. 185° 25′ W. On the W. side of Cape Brett is a large and pretty deep Bay[2] lying in S.W. by W., in which there appear'd to be several small Islands. The point that forms the N.W. entrance I have named Point Pocock; it lies W. ¼ N., 3 or 4 Leagues from Cape Brett. On the S.W. side of this Bay we saw several Villages situated both on Islands and on the Main land, from whence came

  1. Rear Admiral Sir Piercey Brett was one of the Lords of the Admiralty when the Endeavour sailed.
  2. The Bay of Islands.