no TS, boat on our way ; but finding the current and wind againfl-
us, we were forced to come to again about feven o clock,,
between Motu-Aro and Long Ifland. Here we lay an hour
or two, and then fet fail with a more favourable breeze,,
which carried us into Cook’s Strait.
We Rood clofe inlhore under cape Tera-Wittee, and fired
feveral guns to give the Adventure notice of our approach, in
cafe ihe had lain in one of the adjacent harbours. Between
the Capes Tera-Wittee and Pallifer, we difcovered a ver-y deep
bay, of which the flioress had every where a gentle flope,;
and efpecially towards the bottom, where the hills were
removed to fuch a diftance, that we could but juft difcern,
them. If there is a fufficient depth of water for fhips in.
this bay,-and of that we had no room to doubt, it appears,
to be a moft convenient fpot for an. EuropeanSettlement..
There is a great ftretch.of land fit for cultivation, and eafily.
defenfible; there is likewife plenty of. wood-, and almoft.
certain indications of a confiderable liver: and laftly, the.
country does not leem to- be ver-y populous, fo that there.-
would be little danger of quarrels with the natives; advantages
which are not frequently to be met with jointly
in many fpots of New Zeeland. T.he flag (phormium tenax):
of which the natives make all their clothes, mats, ropes,,
and nets, affords fuch an excellent kind of flax, which is
at once glofly, elaftic, and ftrong, that it might become an-,
article of commerce in India, where cordage and canvas is.
wanted..
wanted. Perhaps in future ages, when the maritime November,
powers of Europe lofe their American colonies, they may
think of making new eftablifhments in more diftant regions
; and if it were ever poflible for Europeans to have
humanity enough to acknowledge the indigenous tribes of
the South Sea as their brethren, we might have fettlements
which would not be defiled with the blood of innocent
nations.
We continued firing guns as we flood pafl this bay,
and the next morning having doubled Cape Pallifer, we Friday 26.
ran along the coaft to the northward till the evening,
likewife firing guns from time to time. Our attempts to
rejoin our confort were to no purpofe; we heard no anfwer
to all our fignals, though we hearkened with an attention,
and an eag'ernefs which plainly fliewed how unwillingly
we ventured on a fecond cruize among numberlefs dangers
without a companion. We were .forced at laft to give up
the thought of feeing her again, and about fix o’clock took
our departure from Cape Pallifer, fleering to the S, S. E.
The feurvy, which had afflifted fome of our people after
the firft tedious cruize to the fouth, between the Cape of
Good Hope and Dulky Bay, had been entirely fubdued by
the wholefome diet on fifh, and the drinking of fpruce-
beer in that harbour; and afterwards by the excellent
greens in Queen Charlotte’s Sound. Our difagreeable paf-
fage in winter from New Zeeland to Taheitee, had revived
X x x i the