SHE leagues. The monument which captain Cook had erected
November, ®
here formerly, eonfifting of a pile .of loofe ftones, under
which fome coins, bullets, &c. had been buried, was entirely
demolifhed at prefent; the natives having probably
fufpedted that a treafure of European goods was depofited
there. At the foot of this hill fome friendly people, like
thofe of which captain Cook took notice at this place in his*
firft voyage, came to us, and dlfpoffcd’of many of their arms,
utenfils, and dreffes. In the afternoon'we tried the hoop-
nets which we had boughtof the natives', and had tolerable
fuccefs. Thefe nets are made of the fplit leaves of.
the flag, fb often mentioned, after they have been- dried and
beaten. No plant promifes to become fo ufeful to Europe.*
by tranfplantation as this flag. The hemp or flax which
the N e w Zeelanders make o f it, with their ooarfe materials
is exceflively ftrong, foft, glofiy, and white ; and that which1
^ has been prepared again in England; has almoft equalled;
fllk in luftre. It grows on all kinds of foil; and, being'
perennial, may be cut down to the root-every year, and*
requires fcarce any attendance or eare in the cultivation;
Wediieftt. 17. On the I 7 th, we fpent the forenoon in cutting down at
number, of very tall trees, of which we wifhed to gather
the flowers, but all our efforts were in vain. We had no<
fooner cut a tree, than it hung in a thoufand bindweeds,
and climbers from top to bottom, from which it was not
in our power to difengage it- The three following daysw#
'we had much rain, which confined us on board ; nor did
we receive any vifits from the natives during that time.
from the flrore in two canoes, and. feemed to be under
great apprehenfions. for their men, fignifying to us that
they were gone to fight with another party.* From the direction
in which they pointed, we concluded that their
enemies dwelt fomewhere in Admiralty Bay.
On the 2 2d, the weather being mild and fair, the cap- M«id«y
tain, accompanied by Dr. Sparrman, my father, and myfelf,
went into Weft Bay, and in its deepeft recefs carried alhore
two fows and a boar, with three cocks and two hens, which
we fet at liberty a good way up in the woods. We flattered
ourfelves that having chofen a marfliy fpot, which is not
likely to be frequented by the inhabitants, the animals
would be. left to multiply their fpecies without any mo-
leftation. A few natives only in a fingle canoe had feen
us in tire entrance of the bay, and probably would not fuf-
peft that we were come on fo particular an errand. If
therefore the fouthern ifle of New Zeeland fliould in courfe
of time be flocked with hogs and fowls, we have great
reafon to hope that the care with which we concealed them
in the woods, has been the only means of preferving the
race.
- At our return feven or eight canoes arrived from the
northward, fome of which, without paying any attention
T 11 2 to
5 0 7
*773-
November.
Sunday ax.