is secured from all winds. It is full of lovely
coves, and a safe anchorage is to be found
nearly all over i t ; added to this, a number of
navigable rivers are for ever emptying them-
selves into the Bay, which is spotted with innumerable
romantic islands all covered with
perpetual verdure.
It is with peculiar interest we look upon the
spot where the illustrious Cook cast anchor
after his discovery of this Bay. Some un-
happy quarrels with the natives occasioned
much blood to be shed on both sides, and for
a long time caused this island to be looked
upon with horror, and avoided by all Europeans.
It was the courage and enterprise of
the crews of our South Sea Whalers who exhibited
these interesting islanders in their
true character, and proved to the world that
it was quite as safe to anchor in the Bay of
Islands as in the harbour of Port Jackson.
Since the time of Cook, and other circumnavigators
of that period, the character of
these people has undergone a thorough change.
Then it was necessary when a ship anchored,
that the boarding nettings should be up, and
all the arms ready for immediate use. The
principal object the chiefs had in view seemed
to be to lull the commanders into a fatal security,
then to rush upon them, seize their
vessel, and murder all the crew! Too often
have they succeeded, and as often have they
paid most dearly for their treachery and
cruelty. In the case of the ship “ Boyd,”
though they attained their object, they were
as completely punished for their perfidy.
Prom their ignorance of the nature of powder,
and the use of a magazine, they blew up the
ship, and vast numbers of the natives were
destroyed. Besides this calamity, they brought
down upon themselves the vengeance of every
vessel that visited these shores for a long
period afterwards. As the circumstance may
not be generally known, Mr. Berry’s letter,
relating the particulars of that melancholy,
yet interesting event, is here inserted.*
* “ Ship, City of Edinburgh,
“ Lima, Oct. 20. 1810.
“ Sir,
“ I am very sorry to have the painful task of introducing
myself to you, with an account of the loss of
your ship Boyd, Captain Thompson.